APM elliptical galaxies radial velocities

We use these data together with published redshifts and bj apparent magnitudes from the APM Bright Galaxy Survey in order to estimate the shape of the Luminosity Function of a total sample of 535 ellipticals. We use the Maximum Likelihood method for the determination of the best fitting parameters {alpha} and M^*^ of a Schechter Function.

In order to provide tests for systematics and suitable error estimates we apply Monte Carlo techniques which are also used to deal with incompleteness effects in the data. In agreement with other authors our results indicate a relative lack of low luminosity ellipticals compared to other morphological types. The best fitting shape parameters derived are {alpha}=0.20+/-0.25 and M^*^_Bj_=-20.0+/-0.3.