FAINT GALAXIES - MERGING MODEL OF E SO GALAXIES/

We study a model of mergers affecting only the progenitors of present E/SO. We adopt the standard scenarios of star formation as prescribed by Guiderdoni & Rocca-Volmerange. The merging process is parametrized under the assumptions of (1) self-similarity of the Schechter MF and ( 2) mass conservation. Nine models are discussed. The predictions are c ompared with counts of B-J, U+, F+, N+ bands. E/SO mergers account for the excess of the faintest blue galaxies without causing excess in re dder bands. However, as we no longer have enough mergers at brighter m agnitudes, a plain E/SO merging model fits less tightly for the redshi ft and the colour distributions. Detection effect, a steeper slope of LF may be ways to improve. Our models predict acceptable merger freque ncies at z = 0.5 although some models predict more interacting galaxie s than observation at Z = 0.