We have derived the galaxy luminosity function ( GLF ) in the cluster of galaxies Abell 496 from a wide field image in the I band .
A single Schechter function reproduces quite well the GLF in the 17 \leq { I _ { AB } } \leq 22 ( -19.5 \leq { M _ { I } } \leq - 14.5 ) magnitude interval , and the power law index of this function is found to be somewhat steeper in the outer regions than in the inner regions .
This result agrees with the idea that faint galaxies are more abundant in the outer regions of clusters , while in the denser inner regions they have partly been accreted by larger galaxies or have been dimmed or even disrupted by tidal interactions .