The Role of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Quenching of Massive Galaxies in the SQuIGGL→E Survey

Jenny E. Greene; David Setton; Rachel Bezanson; Katherine A. Suess; Mariska Kriek; Justin S. Spilker; Andy D. Goulding; Robert Feldmann

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aba534

The Role of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Quenching of Massive Galaxies in the SQuIGGL→E Survey

Jenny E. Greene, David Setton, Rachel Bezanson, Katherine A. Suess, Mariska Kriek, Justin S. Spilker, Andy D. Goulding, Robert Feldmann

Astrophysical Sciences

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Abstract

We study the incidence of nuclear activity in a large sample of massive post-starburst (PSB) galaxies at z ∼ 0.7 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and identify active galactic nuclei based on radio continuum and optical emission lines. Over our mass range of 1010.6 - 1011.5 M⊙, the incidence of radio activity is weakly dependent on stellar mass and independent of stellar age, while radio luminosity depends strongly on stellar mass. Optical nuclear activity incidence depends most strongly on the Dn4000 line index, a proxy for stellar age, with an active fraction that is ∼10 times higher in the youngest versus oldest PSB galaxies. Since a similar trend is seen between age and molecular gas fractions, we argue that, like in local galaxies, the age trend reflects a peak in available fueling rather than feedback from the central black hole on the surrounding galaxy.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L9
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	899
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aba534
State	Published - Aug 10 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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title = "The Role of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Quenching of Massive Galaxies in the SQuIGGL→E Survey",

abstract = "We study the incidence of nuclear activity in a large sample of massive post-starburst (PSB) galaxies at z ∼ 0.7 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and identify active galactic nuclei based on radio continuum and optical emission lines. Over our mass range of 1010.6 - 1011.5 M⊙, the incidence of radio activity is weakly dependent on stellar mass and independent of stellar age, while radio luminosity depends strongly on stellar mass. Optical nuclear activity incidence depends most strongly on the Dn4000 line index, a proxy for stellar age, with an active fraction that is ∼10 times higher in the youngest versus oldest PSB galaxies. Since a similar trend is seen between age and molecular gas fractions, we argue that, like in local galaxies, the age trend reflects a peak in available fueling rather than feedback from the central black hole on the surrounding galaxy.",

author = "Greene, {Jenny E.} and David Setton and Rachel Bezanson and Suess, {Katherine A.} and Mariska Kriek and Spilker, {Justin S.} and Goulding, {Andy D.} and Robert Feldmann",

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T1 - The Role of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Quenching of Massive Galaxies in the SQuIGGL→E Survey

AU - Greene, Jenny E.

AU - Setton, David

AU - Bezanson, Rachel

AU - Suess, Katherine A.

AU - Kriek, Mariska

AU - Spilker, Justin S.

AU - Goulding, Andy D.

AU - Feldmann, Robert

PY - 2020/8/10

Y1 - 2020/8/10

N2 - We study the incidence of nuclear activity in a large sample of massive post-starburst (PSB) galaxies at z ∼ 0.7 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and identify active galactic nuclei based on radio continuum and optical emission lines. Over our mass range of 1010.6 - 1011.5 M⊙, the incidence of radio activity is weakly dependent on stellar mass and independent of stellar age, while radio luminosity depends strongly on stellar mass. Optical nuclear activity incidence depends most strongly on the Dn4000 line index, a proxy for stellar age, with an active fraction that is ∼10 times higher in the youngest versus oldest PSB galaxies. Since a similar trend is seen between age and molecular gas fractions, we argue that, like in local galaxies, the age trend reflects a peak in available fueling rather than feedback from the central black hole on the surrounding galaxy.

AB - We study the incidence of nuclear activity in a large sample of massive post-starburst (PSB) galaxies at z ∼ 0.7 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and identify active galactic nuclei based on radio continuum and optical emission lines. Over our mass range of 1010.6 - 1011.5 M⊙, the incidence of radio activity is weakly dependent on stellar mass and independent of stellar age, while radio luminosity depends strongly on stellar mass. Optical nuclear activity incidence depends most strongly on the Dn4000 line index, a proxy for stellar age, with an active fraction that is ∼10 times higher in the youngest versus oldest PSB galaxies. Since a similar trend is seen between age and molecular gas fractions, we argue that, like in local galaxies, the age trend reflects a peak in available fueling rather than feedback from the central black hole on the surrounding galaxy.

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The Role of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Quenching of Massive Galaxies in the SQuIGGL→E Survey

Abstract

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