The DEEP3 Galaxy Redshift Survey: The impact of environment on the size evolution of massive early-type galaxies at intermediate redshift†

Michael C. Cooper, Roger L. Griffith, Jeffrey A. Newman, Alison L. Coil, Marc Davis, Aaron A. Dutton, S. M. Faber, Puragra Guhathakurta, David C. Koo, Jennifer M. Lotz, Benjamin J. Weiner, Christopher N.A. Willmer, Renbin Yan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

165 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using data drawn from the DEEP2 and DEEP3 Galaxy Redshift Surveys, we investigate the relationship between the environment and the structure of galaxies residing on the red sequence at intermediate redshift. Within the massive (10 < log 10(M {black star}/h -2M ) < 11) early-type population at 0.4 < z < 1.2, we find a significant correlation between local galaxy overdensity (or environment) and galaxy size, such that early-type systems in higher density regions tend to have larger effective radii (by ∼0.5h -1kpc or 25 per cent larger) than their counterparts of equal stellar mass and Sérsic index in lower density environments. This observed size-density relation is consistent with a model of galaxy formation in which the evolution of early-type systems at z < 2 is accelerated in high-density environments such as groups and clusters and in which dry, minor mergers (versus mechanisms such as quasar feedback) play a central role in the structural evolution of the massive, early-type galaxy population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3018-3027
Number of pages10
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume419
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Keywords

  • Galaxies: evolution
  • Galaxies: formation
  • Galaxies: fundamental parameters
  • Galaxies: high-redshift
  • Galaxies: statistics
  • Large-scale structure of Universe

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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