Tightly Coupled Morpho-kinematic Evolution for Massive Star-forming and Quiescent Galaxies across 7 Gyr of Cosmic Time

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 903, pp. L30

Abstract

Abstract We use the Fundamental Plane (FP) to measure the redshift evolution of the dynamical mass-to-light ratio (M dyn/L) and the dynamical-to-stellar mass ratio (M dyn/M *). Although conventionally used to study the properties of early-type galaxies, we here obtain stellar kinematic measurements from the Large Early Galaxy Astrophysics Census (LEGA-C) Survey for a sample of ∼1400 massive ( ) galaxies at 0.6 < z < 1.0 that span a wide range in star formation activity. In line with previous studies, we find a strong evolution in M dyn/L g with redshift. In contrast, we find only a weak dependence of the mean value of M dyn/M * on the specific star formation rate, and a redshift evolution that likely is explained by systematics. Therefore, we demonstrate that star-forming and quiescent galaxies lie on the same, stable mass FP across 0 < z < 1, and that the decrease in M dyn/L g toward high redshift can be attributed entirely to evolution of the stellar populations. Moreover, we show that the growth of galaxies in size and mass is constrained to occur within the mass FP. Our results imply either minimal structural evolution in massive galaxies since z ∼ 1, or a tight coupling in the evolution of their morphological and dynamical properties, and establish the mass FP as a tool for studying galaxy evolution with low impact from progenitor bias.

Authors 14

1. Anna de Graaff corresponding Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands; graaff@strw.leidenuniv.nl

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Rachel Bezanson

   University of Pittsburgh

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA

3. Marijn Franx Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands; graaff@strw.leidenuniv.nl

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Arjen van der Wel

   Ghent University · Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

   Affiliation as printed

   Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany

   Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S9, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

5. Eric F. Bell

   University of Michigan

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, 1085 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

6. Francesco D’Eugenio

   Ghent University

   Affiliation as printed

   Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S9, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

7. Bradford P. Holden

   University of California, Santa Cruz

   Affiliation as printed

   UCO/Lick Observatory, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA

8. Michael V. Maseda Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands; graaff@strw.leidenuniv.nl

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 AA Leiden, The Netherlands

9. Adam Muzzin

   York University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada

10. Camilla Pacifici

    Space Telescope Science Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

11. Jesse van de Sande

    The University of Sydney · ASTRO-3D · ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), Australia

    Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, A28, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

12. David Sobral

    Lancaster University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4 YB, UK

13. Caroline M. S. Straatman

    Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S9, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

14. Po-Feng Wu

    National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

    Affiliation as printed

    National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan