The O II luminosity density of the universe

Equivalent widths of [O II] 3727 Angstrom lines are measured in 375 faint galaxy spectra taken as part of the Caltech Faint Galaxy Redshift Survey centered on the Hubble Deep Field. The sensitivity of the survey spectra to the [O II] line is computed as a function of magnitude, color, and redshift. The luminosity function of galaxies in the [O II] line, and the integrated luminosity density of the universe in the [O II] line, are computed as a function of redshift. It is found that the luminosity density in the [O II] line was a factor of similar to 10 higher at redshifts z similar to 1 than it is at the present day. The simplest interpretation is that the star formation rate density of the universe has declined dramatically since z similar to 1.