From starburst to quiescence: post-starburst galaxies and their large-scale clustering over cosmic time

Wilkinson, Aaron; Almaini, Omar; Wild, Vivienne; Maltby, David; Hartley, William G.; Simpson, Chris; Rowlands, Kate

Abstract

We present the first study of the large-scale clustering of post-starburst (PSB) galaxies in the high-redshift Universe (0.5 < z < 3.0). We select ∼4000 PSB galaxies photometrically, the largest high-redshift sample of this kind, from two deep large-scale near-infrared surveys: The UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey Data Release 11 and the Cosmic Evolution Survey. Using angular cross-correlation techniques, we estimate the halo masses for this large sample of PSB galaxies and compare them with quiescent and star-forming galaxies selected in the same fields. We find that low-mass, low-redshift (0.5 < z < 1.0) PSB galaxies preferentially reside in very high mass dark matter haloes (Mhalo > 1014 M), suggesting that they are likely to be infalling satellite galaxies in cluster-like environments. High-mass PSB galaxies are more weakly clustered at low redshifts, but they reside in higher mass haloes with increasing look-back time, suggesting strong redshift-dependent halo downsizing. These key results are consistent with previous results, suggesting that two main channels are responsible for the rapid quenching of galaxies. While high-redshift (z > 1) galaxies appear to be quenched by secular feedback mechanisms, processes associated with dense environments are likely to be the key driver of rapid quenching in the low-redshift Universe (z < 1). Finally, we show that the clustering of photometrically selected PSBs is consistent with them being direct descendants of highly dust-enshrouded submillimetre galaxies, providing tantalizing evidence for the oft-speculated evolutionary pathway from starburst to quiescence.

Citation

Wilkinson, A., Almaini, O., Wild, V., Maltby, D., Hartley, W. G., Simpson, C., & Rowlands, K. (2021). From starburst to quiescence: post-starburst galaxies and their large-scale clustering over cosmic time. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 504(3), 4533–4550. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab965

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 15, 2021
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2021
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Print ISSN: 0035-8711
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2966
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 504
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 4533–4550
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab965
• Keywords: Space and Planetary Science; Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5493747
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/504/3/4533/6226659?redirectedFrom=fulltext
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The version of record, Aaron Wilkinson, Omar Almaini, Vivienne Wild, David Maltby, William G Hartley, Chris Simpson, Kate Rowlands, From starburst to quiescence: post-starburst galaxies and their large-scale clustering over cosmic time, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 504, Issue 3, July 2021, Pages 4533–4550 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/504/3/4533/6226659?redirectedFrom=fulltext.