Variation of the stellar luminosity function with distance from the galactic plane

Abstract

A summary of the data included in three high-latitude objective prism Schmidt surveys is given which leads to the derivation of the general stellar luminosity function. For distances from the galactic plane of less than 100 pc, it is in good agreement with that accepted as representative of the solar neighborhood. The variation of the luminosity function with height above the plane is presented up to a distance of 500 pc in the north galactic pole direction. The character of the luminosity function, both considering all stars together and those on the main sequence only, indicates that stars belonging to the halo population are in the majority at heights above 200 pc and that. at 400 pc, virtually all of the stars belong to this old population grou}). These results support similar conclusions deduced from stellar motions.