Deep CCD survey - galaxy luminosity and color evolution

Imaging and photometric observations of a statistically complete sample of galaxies in 12 high-latitude fields, obtained in the BJ (360-520 nm), R (580-720 nm) and I (780-1100 nm) bands using CCD detectors on the 4-m telescopes at CTIO and KPNO, are reported. The data are presented in extensive graphs and sample images and analyzed in detail with reference to theoretical models of galactic origin and evolution. The galaxy number-count slopes, d(log N)/dm, are found to be sub-Euclidean, varying from 0.34 in the I band to 0.45 in the BJ band, where the corrected counts appear to saturate at about 27 mag. The predictions of no-evolution models are shown to underpredict the counts at 25 mag (BJ) by a factor of 5-15 and the extragalactic background light from all galaxies (6.8 x 10 to the -6th erg/sq cm sec sr micron at 450 nm) by a factor greater than 2. 114 references