pith. sign in

arxiv: 1107.0317 · v2 · pith:YX3MZ75Ynew · submitted 2011-07-01 · 🌌 astro-ph.CO

Galaxy Structure and Mode of Star Formation in the SFR-Mass Plane from z ~ 2.5 to z ~ 0.1

classification 🌌 astro-ph.CO
keywords galaxiesmasssequencemainsigmasizestructureassumed
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

We analyze the dependence of galaxy structure (size and Sersic index) and mode of star formation (\Sigma_SFR and SFR_IR/SFR_UV) on the position of galaxies in the SFR versus Mass diagram. Our sample comprises roughly 640000 galaxies at z~0.1, 130000 galaxies at z~1, and 36000 galaxies at z~2. Structural measurements for all but the z~0.1 galaxies were based on HST imaging, and SFRs are derived using a Herschel-calibrated ladder of SFR indicators. We find that a correlation between the structure and stellar population of galaxies (i.e., a 'Hubble sequence') is already in place since at least z~2.5. At all epochs, typical star-forming galaxies on the main sequence are well approximated by exponential disks, while the profiles of quiescent galaxies are better described by de Vaucouleurs profiles. In the upper envelope of the main sequence, the relation between the SFR and Sersic index reverses, suggesting a rapid build-up of the central mass concentration in these starbursting outliers. We observe quiescent, moderately and highly star-forming systems to co-exist over an order of magnitude or more in stellar mass. At each mass and redshift, galaxies on the main sequence have the largest size. The rate of size growth correlates with specific SFR, and so does \Sigma_SFR at each redshift. A simple model using an empirically determined SF law and metallicity scaling, in combination with an assumed geometry for dust and stars is able to relate the observed \Sigma_SFR and SFR_IR/SFR_UV, provided a more patchy dust geometry is assumed for high-redshift galaxies.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Forward citations

Cited by 5 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Spider-Webb: enhanced star formation in low-mass galaxies within the Spiderweb protocluster revealed by JWST Pa$\beta$ narrow-band imaging

    astro-ph.GA 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Low-mass Paβ emitters in the Spiderweb protocluster show enhanced star formation rates compared to field galaxies, with no significant deviation at higher masses.

  2. Empirical estimates of how massive galaxies can be in {\Lambda}CDM

    astro-ph.GA 2026-05 conditional novelty 6.0

    Corrected empirical limits show the most massive galaxies never exceed the theoretical baryonic maximum of 0.16 times halo virial mass, keeping observations consistent with LambdaCDM at all redshifts.

  3. COSMOS-Web: Star formation along the early Hubble sequence and the evolution of dust over the redshift range 0<z<12

    astro-ph.GA 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Stacking of 850-micron data reveals SFR increasing with redshift and declining from irregular to spheroidal galaxies at 2<z<4.5, with a chemical evolution model reproducing the dust-to-stellar mass ratio rise to z~8.

  4. COSMOS-Web: Star formation along the early Hubble sequence and the evolution of dust over the redshift range 0<z<12

    astro-ph.GA 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Stacking analysis shows mean SFR in massive galaxies at 2<z<4.5 declines along the Hubble sequence from ~280 M⊙/yr in irregulars to ~80 M⊙/yr in spheroids, with a simple chemical evolution model explaining the rise in...

  5. Empirical estimates of how massive galaxies can be in {\Lambda}CDM

    astro-ph.GA 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Empirical upper limits on galaxy stellar masses from extreme value statistics, after correcting for Eddington bias and halo mass scatter, remain below the theoretical baryonic maximum of 0.16 times halo mass at all re...