New Determinations of the UV Luminosity Functions from z ∼ 9 to 2 Show a Remarkable Consistency with Halo Growth and a Constant Star Formation Efficiency

Abstract Here we provide the most comprehensive determinations of rest-frame UV luminosity function (LF) available to date with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) at z ∼ 2–9. Essentially all noncluster extragalactic legacy fields are utilized, including Ultra Deep Field, Frontier Fields parallel fields, and five CANDELS for a total survey area 1136 arcmin 2 . Our include galaxies 2–3 leveraging deep HDUV, UVUDF, ERS WFC3/UVIS observations over an ∼150 in GOODS-North GOODS-South regions. All together, our collective samples >24,000 sources, >2.3× larger than previous selections HST. We identify 5766, 6332, 7240, 3449, 1066, 601, 246, 33 sources 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively. Combining results earlier 10 LF determination by Oesch et al., quantify evolution LF. indicate that there is (1) smooth flattening faint-end slope α from −2.4 −1.5 (2) minimal characteristic M * ≥ 2.5, (3) monotonic increase normalization log 10 ϕ * which can be well described simple second-order polynomial, consistent “accelerated” scenario. find each these trends (from 2.5 least) readily explained on basis halo mass constant star formation efficiency model.