The Ages of Passive Galaxies in a z=1.62 Protocluster
Issue Date
2016-12-31Author
Lee-Brown, Donald
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
49 pages
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
M.S.
Discipline
Physics & Astronomy
Rights
Copyright held by the author.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Understanding how galaxies stop forming stars is a principle pursuit of extragalactic astrophysics. Here, I present a study of the relation between galaxy stellar age and mass in the $z=1.62$ protocluster IRC 0218. After separating star forming and quiescent galaxies on the basis of their $UVJ$ colors, we find that at stellar masses $M_* \ge 10^{10.8} M_{\odot}$, the quiescent fraction in IRC 0218 is $f_Q=1.0^{+0.00}_{-0.36}$, approximately $2-3 \times$ higher than the field value. At lower masses, $f_Q$ is consistent with the field. Using galaxy $D_{n}(4000)$ values as measures of stellar age, we find no relation between age and mass. This may indicate that the mass dependence of $f_Q$ was imprinted early in IRC 0218's history. Alternatively, the lack of a relation may be due to mass redistribution through gasless merging. Ultimately, our results place constraints on the mechanism(s) responsible for quenching in dense environments at $z\ge 1.5$.
Collections
- Physics & Astronomy Dissertations and Theses [121]
- Theses [3940]
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.