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The Evolution of the Fractions of Quiescent and Star-forming Galaxies as a Function of Stellar Mass Since z=3: Increasing Importance of Massive, Dusty Star-forming Galaxies in the Early Universe

Authors :
Martis, Nicholas S.
Marchesini, Danilo
Brammer, Gabriel B.
Muzzin, Adam
Labbé, Ivo
Momcheva, Ivelina G.
Skelton, Rosalind E.
Stefanon, Mauro
van Dokkum, Pieter G.
Whitaker, Katherine E.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Using the UltraVISTA DR1 and 3D-HST catalogs, we construct a stellar-mass-complete sample, unique for its combination of surveyed volume and depth, to study the evolution of the fractions of quiescent galaxies, moderately unobscured star-forming galaxies, and dusty star-forming galaxies as a function of stellar mass over the redshift interval $0.2 \le z \le 3.0$. We show that the role of dusty star-forming galaxies within the overall galaxy population becomes more important with increasing stellar mass, and grows rapidly with increasing redshift. Specifically, dusty star-forming galaxies dominate the galaxy population with $\log{(M_{\rm star}/M_{\odot})} \gtrsim 10.3$ at $z\gtrsim2$. The ratio of dusty and non-dusty star-forming galaxies as a function of stellar mass changes little with redshift. Dusty star-forming galaxies dominate the star-forming population at $\log{(M_{\rm star}/M_{\odot})} \gtrsim 10.0-10.5$, being a factor of $\sim$3-5 more common, while unobscured star-forming galaxies dominate at $\log{(M_{\rm star}/M_{\odot})} \lesssim 10$. At $\log{(M_{\rm star}/M_{\odot})} > 10.5$, red galaxies dominate the galaxy population at all redshift $z<3$, either because they are quiescent (at late times) or dusty star-forming (in the early universe).<br />Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letters after minor revision

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.1606.04090
Document Type :
Working Paper
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/827/2/L25