The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2

Katelyn Horstman; Alice E. Shapley; Ryan L. Sanders; Bahram Mobasher; Naveen A. Reddy; Mariska Kriek; Alison L. Coil; Brian Siana; Irene Shivaei; William R. Freeman; Mojegan Azadi; Sedona H. Price; Gene C.K. Leung; Tara Fetherolf; Laura De Groot; Tom Zick; Francesca M. Fornasini; Guillermo Barro

doi:10.1093/mnras/staa3502

The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2

Katelyn Horstman, Alice E. Shapley, Ryan L. Sanders, Bahram Mobasher, Naveen A. Reddy, Mariska Kriek, Alison L. Coil, Brian Siana, Irene Shivaei, William R. Freeman, Mojegan Azadi, Sedona H. Price, Gene C.K. Leung, Tara Fetherolf, Laura De Groot, Tom Zick, Francesca M. Fornasini, Guillermo Barro

Physics And Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the properties of 55 morphologically-identified merging galaxy systems at z ∼2. These systems are flagged as mergers based on features such as tidal tails, double nuclei, and asymmetry. Our sample is drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, along with a control sample of isolated galaxies at the same redshift. We consider the relationships between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and gas-phase metallicity for both merging and non-merging systems. In the local universe, merging systems are characterized by an elevated SFR and depressed metallicity compared to isolated systems at a given mass. Our results indicate SFR enhancement and metallicity deficit for merging systems relative to non-merging systems for a fixed stellar mass at z ∼2, though larger samples are required to establish these preliminary results with higher statistical significance. In future work, it will be important to establish if the enhanced SFR and depressed metallicity in high-redshift mergers deviate from the 'fundamental metallicity relation,' as is observed in mergers in the local universe, and therefore shed light on gas flows during galaxy interactions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	137-145
Number of pages	9
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	501
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa3502
State	Published - Feb 1 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.

Funding

Funders	Funder number
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences	1312764, 1313171, 1312547, 1312780

Keywords

galaxies: evolution
galaxies: high-redshift
galaxies: interactions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1093/mnras/staa3502

Cite this

Horstman, K., Shapley, A. E., Sanders, R. L., Mobasher, B., Reddy, N. A., Kriek, M., Coil, A. L., Siana, B., Shivaei, I., Freeman, W. R., Azadi, M., Price, S. H., Leung, G. C. K., Fetherolf, T., De Groot, L., Zick, T., Fornasini, F. M., & Barro, G. (2021). The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 501(1), 137-145. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa3502

@article{400c99f3e1a8481baa2215e17638271f,

title = "The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2",

abstract = "We study the properties of 55 morphologically-identified merging galaxy systems at z ∼2. These systems are flagged as mergers based on features such as tidal tails, double nuclei, and asymmetry. Our sample is drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, along with a control sample of isolated galaxies at the same redshift. We consider the relationships between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and gas-phase metallicity for both merging and non-merging systems. In the local universe, merging systems are characterized by an elevated SFR and depressed metallicity compared to isolated systems at a given mass. Our results indicate SFR enhancement and metallicity deficit for merging systems relative to non-merging systems for a fixed stellar mass at z ∼2, though larger samples are required to establish these preliminary results with higher statistical significance. In future work, it will be important to establish if the enhanced SFR and depressed metallicity in high-redshift mergers deviate from the 'fundamental metallicity relation,' as is observed in mergers in the local universe, and therefore shed light on gas flows during galaxy interactions.",

keywords = "galaxies: evolution, galaxies: high-redshift, galaxies: interactions",

author = "Katelyn Horstman and Shapley, {Alice E.} and Sanders, {Ryan L.} and Bahram Mobasher and Reddy, {Naveen A.} and Mariska Kriek and Coil, {Alison L.} and Brian Siana and Irene Shivaei and Freeman, {William R.} and Mojegan Azadi and Price, {Sedona H.} and Leung, {Gene C.K.} and Tara Fetherolf and {De Groot}, Laura and Tom Zick and Fornasini, {Francesca M.} and Guillermo Barro",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/staa3502",

language = "English",

volume = "501",

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Horstman, K, Shapley, AE, Sanders, RL, Mobasher, B, Reddy, NA, Kriek, M, Coil, AL, Siana, B, Shivaei, I, Freeman, WR, Azadi, M, Price, SH, Leung, GCK, Fetherolf, T, De Groot, L, Zick, T, Fornasini, FM & Barro, G 2021, 'The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 501, no. 1, pp. 137-145. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa3502

TY - JOUR

T1 - The MOSDEF survey

T2 - Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2

AU - Horstman, Katelyn

AU - Shapley, Alice E.

AU - Sanders, Ryan L.

AU - Mobasher, Bahram

AU - Reddy, Naveen A.

AU - Kriek, Mariska

AU - Coil, Alison L.

AU - Siana, Brian

AU - Shivaei, Irene

AU - Freeman, William R.

AU - Azadi, Mojegan

AU - Price, Sedona H.

AU - Leung, Gene C.K.

AU - Fetherolf, Tara

AU - De Groot, Laura

AU - Zick, Tom

AU - Fornasini, Francesca M.

AU - Barro, Guillermo

PY - 2021/2/1

Y1 - 2021/2/1

N2 - We study the properties of 55 morphologically-identified merging galaxy systems at z ∼2. These systems are flagged as mergers based on features such as tidal tails, double nuclei, and asymmetry. Our sample is drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, along with a control sample of isolated galaxies at the same redshift. We consider the relationships between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and gas-phase metallicity for both merging and non-merging systems. In the local universe, merging systems are characterized by an elevated SFR and depressed metallicity compared to isolated systems at a given mass. Our results indicate SFR enhancement and metallicity deficit for merging systems relative to non-merging systems for a fixed stellar mass at z ∼2, though larger samples are required to establish these preliminary results with higher statistical significance. In future work, it will be important to establish if the enhanced SFR and depressed metallicity in high-redshift mergers deviate from the 'fundamental metallicity relation,' as is observed in mergers in the local universe, and therefore shed light on gas flows during galaxy interactions.

AB - We study the properties of 55 morphologically-identified merging galaxy systems at z ∼2. These systems are flagged as mergers based on features such as tidal tails, double nuclei, and asymmetry. Our sample is drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, along with a control sample of isolated galaxies at the same redshift. We consider the relationships between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and gas-phase metallicity for both merging and non-merging systems. In the local universe, merging systems are characterized by an elevated SFR and depressed metallicity compared to isolated systems at a given mass. Our results indicate SFR enhancement and metallicity deficit for merging systems relative to non-merging systems for a fixed stellar mass at z ∼2, though larger samples are required to establish these preliminary results with higher statistical significance. In future work, it will be important to establish if the enhanced SFR and depressed metallicity in high-redshift mergers deviate from the 'fundamental metallicity relation,' as is observed in mergers in the local universe, and therefore shed light on gas flows during galaxy interactions.

KW - galaxies: evolution

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

KW - galaxies: interactions

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U2 - 10.1093/mnras/staa3502

DO - 10.1093/mnras/staa3502

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85100341444

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 501

SP - 137

EP - 145

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 1

ER -

The MOSDEF survey: Differences in SFR and metallicity for morphologically selected mergers at z ∼2

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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