|
Description
We analyze the morphological properties of a large sample of 1503 70um selected galaxies in the COSMOS field spanning the redshift range 0.01<z<3.5 with a median redshift of 0.5 and an infrared luminosity range of 10^8^<L_IR_(8-1000um)<10^14^L_{sun}_ with a median luminosity of 10^11.4^L_{sun}_. In general, these galaxies are massive, with a stellar mass range of 10^10^-10^12^M_{sun}_, and luminous, with -25<M_K_<-20. The precise fraction of mergers in any given L_IR_ bin varies by redshift due to sources at z>1 being difficult to classify and subject to the effects of bandpass shifting; therefore, these numbers can only be considered lower limits. At z<1, where the morphological classifications are most robust, major mergers clearly dominate the ULIRG population (~50%-80%) and are important for the LIRG population (~25%-40%). At z>1, the fraction of major mergers is lower, but is at least 30%-40% for ULIRGs. In a comparison of our visual classifications with several automated classification techniques we find general agreement; however, the fraction of identified mergers is underestimated due to automated classification methods being sensitive to only certain timescales of a major merger. The distribution of the U-V color of the galaxies in our sample peaks in the green valley (<U-V>=1.1) with a large spread at bluer and redder colors and with the major mergers peaking more strongly in the green valley than the rest of the morphological classes.
|
