Tightly Coupled Morpho-kinematic Evolution for Massive Star-forming and Quiescent Galaxies across 7 Gyr of Cosmic Time

• Published in: Astrophysical journal. Letters Vol. 903; no. 2; p. L30
• Main Authors: Graaff, Anna de, Bezanson, Rachel, Franx, Marijn, Wel, Arjen van der, Bell, Eric F., D'Eugenio, Francesco, Holden, Bradford, Maseda, Michael V., Muzzin, Adam, Pacifici, Camilla, Sande, Jesse van de, Sobral, David, Straatman, Caroline M. S., Wu, Po-Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austin The American Astronomical Society 01.11.2020; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Galactic evolution; Galaxies; Galaxy dynamics; Galaxy evolution; Galaxy kinematics; Galaxy structure; Kinematics; Massive stars; Red shift; Star & galaxy formation; Star formation; Star formation rate; Stars & galaxies; Stellar evolution; Stellar kinematics; Stellar mass; Stellar populations; Systematics
• ISSN: 2041-8205; 2041-8213
• DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/abc428

We use the Fundamental Plane (FP) to measure the redshift evolution of the dynamical mass-to-light ratio (Mdyn/L) and the dynamical-to-stellar mass ratio (Mdyn/M*). Although conventionally used to study the properties of early-type galaxies, we here obtain stellar kinematic measurements from the Large Early Galaxy Astrophysics Census (LEGA-C) Survey for a sample of ∼1400 massive ( ) galaxies at 0.6 < z < 1.0 that span a wide range in star formation activity. In line with previous studies, we find a strong evolution in Mdyn/Lg with redshift. In contrast, we find only a weak dependence of the mean value of Mdyn/M* on the specific star formation rate, and a redshift evolution that likely is explained by systematics. Therefore, we demonstrate that star-forming and quiescent galaxies lie on the same, stable mass FP across 0 < z < 1, and that the decrease in Mdyn/Lg toward high redshift can be attributed entirely to evolution of the stellar populations. Moreover, we show that the growth of galaxies in size and mass is constrained to occur within the mass FP. Our results imply either minimal structural evolution in massive galaxies since z ∼ 1, or a tight coupling in the evolution of their morphological and dynamical properties, and establish the mass FP as a tool for studying galaxy evolution with low impact from progenitor bias.