[179.11] Major-Merger Galaxy Pairing in the 2MASS and SDSS databases.

AAS 207th Meeting, 8-12 January 2006
Session 179 Evolution of Galaxies, and Galaxies Surveys at Low Redshift
Poster, Thursday, 9:20am-4:00pm, January 12, 2006, Exhibit Hall

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[179.11] Major-Merger Galaxy Pairing in the 2MASS and SDSS databases.

D. Domingue (Georgia College & State University), C.K. Xu (IPAC, Caltech)

We select a close ``major-merger candidate" galaxy pair sample in order to calculate the K_s luminosity function (LF) and pair fraction representative of the interaction component of galaxy evolution in the local universe. The pair sample (projected separation 5 h^-1 kpc \leq r \leq 20 h^-1 kpc, K_s-band magnitude difference \deltaK_s \leq 1mag) is selected by combining the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 3 (DR3). The resulting data set contains 122 galaxies covering 3500 sq. degrees. A stellar mass function is also translated from the LF. Contrary to previous results from a smaller sample, the derived pair LF has a consistent profile with that of 2MASS galaxies in general. A differential pair fraction therefore displays nearly constant fraction of galaxy pairs as a function of galaxy mass from 10^9.5 to 10^11.5 solar masses. This suggests that major-mergers are produced in equal fractions regardless of galaxy mass.

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