Demographics of Star-forming Galaxies since z ∼ 2.5. I. The UVJ Diagram in CANDELS

Jerome J. Fang, S. M. Faber, David C. Koo, Aldo Rodríguez-puebla, Yicheng Guo, Guillermo Barro, Peter Behroozi, Gabriel Brammer, Zhu Chen, Avishai Dekel, Henry C. Ferguson, Eric Gawiser, Mauro Giavalisco, Jeyhan Kartaltepe, Dale D. Kocevski, Anton M. Koekemoer, Elizabeth J. Mcgrath, Daniel Mcintosh, Jeffrey A. Newman, Camilla PacificiViraj Pandya, Pablo G. Pérez-gonzález, Joel R. Primack, Brett Salmon, Jonathan R. Trump, Benjamin Weiner, S. P. Willner, Viviana Acquaviva, Tomas Dahlen, Steven L. Finkelstein, Kristian Finlator, Adriano Fontana, Audrey Galametz, Norman A. Grogin, Ruth Gruetzbauch, Seth Johnson, Bahram Mobasher, Casey J. Papovich, Janine Pforr, Mara Salvato, P. Santini, Arjen Van Der Wel, Tommy Wiklind, Stijn Wuyts

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Abstract

This is the first in a series of papers examining the demographics of star-forming (SF) galaxies at 0.2 < z < 2.5 in CANDELS. We study 9100 galaxies from GOODS-S and UDS, having published values of redshifts, masses, star formation rates (SFRs), and dust attenuation (A V) derived from UV-optical spectral energy distribution fitting. In agreement with previous works, we find that the UVJ colors of a galaxy are closely correlated with its specific star formation rate (SSFR) and A V. We define rotated UVJ coordinate axes, termed S SED and C SED, that are parallel and perpendicular to the SF sequence and derive a quantitative calibration that predicts SSFR from C SED with an accuracy of ∼0.2 dex. SFRs from UV-optical fitting and from UV+IR values based on Spitzer/MIPS 24 μm agree well overall, but systematic differences of order 0.2 dex exist at high and low redshifts. A novel plotting scheme conveys the evolution of multiple galaxy properties simultaneously, and dust growth, as well as star formation decline and quenching, exhibit "mass-accelerated evolution" ("downsizing"). A population of transition galaxies below the SF main sequence is identified. These objects are located between SF and quiescent galaxies in UVJ space, and have lower A V and smaller radii than galaxies on the main sequence. Their properties are consistent with their being in transit between the two regions. The relative numbers of quenched, transition, and SF galaxies are given as a function of mass and redshift.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100
Number of pages29
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume858
Issue number2
Early online date11 May 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: fundamental parameters
  • galaxies: high redshift
  • galaxies: star formation
  • galaxies: structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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