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Article Contents

ABSTRACT

1.THE RELEVANCE OF THE OPTICAL LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

1.1.The General vs. Specific Functions

1.2.Some Examples Where (M) is Needed

1.3.History of Determining the General Luminosity Function

2.DEFINITION

2.1.Luminosity Function and Density Function

2.2.Magnitudes

2.3.Selection of Galaxies

3.METHODS TO DETERMINE THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

3.1.Cluster Galaxies

3.2.Field Galaxies

4.THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION OVER ALL HUBBLE TYPES

4.1.Cluster Galaxies

4.2.Field Galaxies

4.3.The Question of Universality

5.THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION FOR DIFFERENT HUBBLE TYPES

5.1.E and S0 Galaxies

5.2.Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies

5.3.Spiral and Irregular Galaxies

5.4.Summary

6.THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION FOR DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

6.1.The Morphology-Density Relation

6.2.Toward a Luminosity Function-Density Relation

6.3.A Case for Simplicity

7.PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

7.1.Observational

7.2.Theoretical

REFERENCES