Paper detail

The Luminosity Function of Galaxies as modelled by the Generalized Gamma Distribution

Two new luminosity functions of galaxies can be built starting from three and four parameter generalized gamma distributions. In the astrophysical conversion, the number of parameters increases by one, due to the addition of the overall density of galaxies. A third new galaxy luminosity function is built starting from a three parameter generalized gamma distribution for the mass of galaxies once a simple nonlinear relationship between mass and luminosity is assumed; in this case the number of parameters is five because the overall density of galaxies and a parameter that regulates mass and luminosity are added. The three new galaxy luminosity functions were tested on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in five different bands; the results always produce a "better fit" than the Schechter function. The formalism that has been developed allows to analyze the Schechter function with a transformation of location. A test between theoretical and observed number of galaxies as a function of redshift was done on data extracted from a two-degree field galaxy redshift survey.