论文标题
沿静态星系序列的颜色梯度:淬灭和结构生长的线索
Color gradients along the quiescent galaxy sequence: clues to quenching and structural growth
论文作者
论文摘要
这封信研究了星系的大小,结构和颜色梯度如何沿静态序列变化。我们的样本由$ 400的静态星系组成,$ 1.0 \ le z \ le2.5 $和$ 10.1 \ le \ log {m _*/m_ \ odot} \ odot} \ le11.6 $在三个烛台中。我们利用深层HST成像来得出准确的质量曲线和颜色梯度,然后使用REST-FRAME UVJ颜色的经验校准来估计星系年龄。我们发现,与以前的结果相反,最年轻的静态星系并不比固定恒星质量的较老的静态星系明显小。这些“恒星后”星系仅在半光半径中看起来较小,因为它们具有系统地扁平的颜色梯度。静态星系中颜色梯度的强度是年龄的明确功能,较旧的星系表现出更强的负颜色梯度(即红色中心)。此外,我们发现中央质量表面密度$σ_1$独立于固定恒星质量时的年龄,仅弱取决于红移。这一发现表明,静态星系的中央质量谱并没有随着年龄的增长而显着变化。但是,我们发现较旧的静态星系在大半径上具有额外的质量。我们的结果支持这样的想法,即建立巨大的核心是超过$ z = 1 $的淬火的必要条件,并表明恒星后的星系是需要结构性变化的快速淬火过程的结果。此外,我们观察到的颜色梯度和质量曲线演化支持了一种静态星系通过次要合并而内外生长的情况。
This Letter examines how the sizes, structures, and color gradients of galaxies change along the quiescent sequence. Our sample consists of ~400 quiescent galaxies at $1.0\le z\le2.5$ and $10.1 \le \log{M_*/M_\odot}\le11.6$ in three CANDELS fields. We exploit deep multi-band HST imaging to derive accurate mass profiles and color gradients, then use an empirical calibration from rest-frame UVJ colors to estimate galaxy ages. We find that -- contrary to previous results -- the youngest quiescent galaxies are not significantly smaller than older quiescent galaxies at fixed stellar mass. These `post-starburst' galaxies only appear smaller in half-light radii because they have systematically flatter color gradients. The strength of color gradients in quiescent galaxies is a clear function of age, with older galaxies exhibiting stronger negative color gradients (i.e., redder centers). Furthermore, we find that the central mass surface density $Σ_1$ is independent of age at fixed stellar mass, and only weakly depends on redshift. This finding implies that the central mass profiles of quiescent galaxies do not significantly change with age; however, we find that older quiescent galaxies have additional mass at large radii. Our results support the idea that building a massive core is a necessary requirement for quenching beyond $z=1$, and indicate that post-starburst galaxies are the result of a rapid quenching process that requires structural change. Furthermore, our observed color gradient and mass profile evolution supports a scenario where quiescent galaxies grow inside-out via minor mergers.