The galaxy stellar mass function and low surface brightness galaxies from core-collapse supernovae

We introduce a method for producing a galaxy sample unbiased by surface brightness and stellar mass, by selecting star-forming galaxies via the positions of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). Whilst matching ∼2400 supernovae from the SDSS-II Supernova Survey to their host galaxies using IAC Stripe 82 legacy coadded imaging, we find ∼150 previously unidentified low surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs). Using a sub-sample of ∼900 CCSNe, we infer CCSN-rate and star formation rate densities as a function of galaxy stellar mass, and the star-forming galaxy stellar mass function. Resultant star-forming galaxy number densities are found to increase following a power law down to our low-mass limit of ∼10^6.4 M_⊙ by a single Schechter function with a faint-end slope of α = −1.41. Number densities are consistent with those found by the EAGLE simulations invoking a Λ cold dark matter cosmology. Overcoming surface brightness and stellar mass biases is important for assessment of the sub-structure problem. In order to estimate galaxy stellar masses, a new code for the calculation of galaxy photometric redshifts, zMedIC, is also presented, and shown to be particularly useful for small samples of galaxies.

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18 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

methods: statistical
supernovae: general
galaxies: distances and redshifts
galaxies: luminosity function, mass function
galaxies: star formation

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Figures(14)

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