The $z < 1.2$ optical luminosity function from a sample of $\sim410 \,
  000$ galaxies in bootes
  Using a sample of ~410 000 galaxies to depth I_AB = 24 over 8.26 deg^2 in the
Bootes field (~10 times larger than z~1 luminosity function studies in the
prior literature), we have accurately measured the evolving B-band luminosity
function of red galaxies at z<1.2 and blue galaxies at z<1.0. In addition to
the large sample size, we utilise photometry that accounts for the varying
angular sizes of galaxies, photometric redshifts verified with spectroscopy,
and absolute magnitudes that should have very small random and systematic
errors. Our results are consistent with the migration of galaxies from the blue
cloud to the red sequence as they cease to form stars, and with downsizing in
which more massive and luminous blue galaxies cease star formation earlier than
fainter less massive ones. Comparing the observed fading of red galaxies with
that to be expected from passive evolution alone, we find that the stellar mass
contained within the red galaxy population has increased by a factor of ~3.6
from z~1.1 to z~0.1. The bright end of the red galaxy luminosity function fades
with decreasing redshift, the rate of fading increasing from ~0.2 mag per unit
redshift at z = 1.0 to ~0.8 at z = 0.2. The overall decrease in luminosity
implies that the stellar mass in individual highly luminous red galaxies
increased by a factor of ~2.2 from z = 1.1 to z = 0.1.
