Near-infrared number counts and luminosity functions of local galaxies

This study presents a wide-field near-infrared (K-band) survey in two fields: SA 68 and Lynx 2. The survey covers an area of 0.6 deg(2), complete to K = 16.5. A total of 867 galaxies are detected in this survey of which 175 have available redshifts. The near-infrared number counts to K = 16.5 mag are estimated from the complete photometric survey and are found to be in close agreement with other available studies. The sample is corrected for incompleteness in redshift space, using selection function in the form of a Fermi-Dirac distribution. This is then used to estimate the local near-infrared luminosity function (IRLF) of galaxies. A Schechter fit to the infrared data gives M-K* = -25.1 +/- 0.3, alpha = -1.3 +/- 0.2, and phi* = (1.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(-3) Mpc(-3) (for H-0 = 50 km s(-1) Mpc(-1) and q(0) = 0.5). When reduced to alpha = -1, this agrees with other available estimates of the local IRLF. We find a steeper slope for the faint end of the infrared luminosity function when compared to previous studies. This is interpreted as being due to the presence of a population of faint but evolved (metal-rich) galaxies in the local universe. However, it is not from the same population as the faint blue galaxies found in the optical surveys. The characteristic magnitude (M-K*) of the local IRLF indicates that the bright red galaxies (M-K similar to -27 mag) have a space density of less than or equal to 5 x 10(-5) Mpc(-3) and, hence, are not likely to be local objects.