The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: Evolution of Close Galaxy Pairs and Major-Merger Rates up to z ~ 1.2

We derive the close, kinematic pair fraction and merger rate up to redshift z ~ 1.2 from the initial data of the DEEP2 Redshift Survey. Assuming a mild luminosity evolution, the number of companions per luminous galaxy is found to evolve as (1 + z)m, with m = 0.51 ± 0.28; assuming no evolution, m = 1.60 ± 0.29. Our results imply that only 9% of present-day L* galaxies have undergone major mergers since z ~ 1.2 and that the average major merger rate is about 4 × 10-4 h3 Mpc-3 Gyr-1 for z ~ 0.5-1.2. Most previous studies have yielded higher values.

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