The role of mass and environment in the quenching and structural transformation of galaxies up to z ~3
Publication Date
August 4, 2021
Creator
Abstract
It is not very well understood how galaxies quench their star formation and undergo morphological transformation. It is hard to separate how both the internal structure of galaxies and their environment affect their star formation properties. Furthermore, the observed morphological and size evolution of galaxies is still a topic of much research.
In this thesis, we investigate the role of mass and environment in the quenching of star formation and size evolution of galaxies in the redshift range 0.5 11) quiescent galaxies are ~ 50 per cent larger in the highest density environments compared to the least dense environments. These trends may be explained by an increased rate of minor dry mergers in dense environments. In addition, we also confirm previous findings that the most recently quenched "post-starburst" galaxies are the most compact of all galaxy types, extending these findings to z=3. Combining these results, we propose a scenario in which massive galaxies initially become exceptionally compact immediately prior to being rapidly quenched at high redshift. Thereafter, these galaxies accrete satellites at a rate dependent on their environment, and gradually grow into the larger passive galaxies we observe in the local Universe.
In this thesis, we investigate the role of mass and environment in the quenching of star formation and size evolution of galaxies in the redshift range 0.5 11) quiescent galaxies are ~ 50 per cent larger in the highest density environments compared to the least dense environments. These trends may be explained by an increased rate of minor dry mergers in dense environments. In addition, we also confirm previous findings that the most recently quenched "post-starburst" galaxies are the most compact of all galaxy types, extending these findings to z=3. Combining these results, we propose a scenario in which massive galaxies initially become exceptionally compact immediately prior to being rapidly quenched at high redshift. Thereafter, these galaxies accrete satellites at a rate dependent on their environment, and gradually grow into the larger passive galaxies we observe in the local Universe.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
MRes
Supervisors
Keywords
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Physics and Astronomy
eprints ID
64344
UoN Repository URI
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