Measurement of the evolving galaxy luminosity and mass function using clustering-based redshift inference

Abstract

ABSTRACT We develop a framework for using clustering-based redshift inference (cluster-$z$ ) to measure the evolving galaxy luminosity function (GLF) and galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) using Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer W1 (3.4 μm) mid-infrared photometry and positions. We use multiple reference sets from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey, Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey. Combining the resulting cluster-$z$ s allows us to enlarge the study area, and by accounting for the specific properties of each reference set, making best use of each reference set to produce the best overall result. Thus we are able to measure the GLF and GSMF over ∼7500 deg2 of the Northern Galactic Cap up to $z$ < 0.6. Our method can easily be adapted for new studies with fainter magnitudes, which pose difficulties for the derivation of photo-$z$ s. With better statistics in future surveys this technique is a strong candidate for studies with new emerging data from, e.g. the Vera C Rubin Observatory, the Euclid mission or the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.