The MOSDEF Survey: Kinematic and Structural Evolution of Star-forming Galaxies at 1.4 ≤ z ≤ 3.8

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

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present ionized gas kinematics for 681 galaxies at z &tild; 1.4-3.8 from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey, measured using models that account for random galaxy-slit misalignments together with structural parameters derived from CANDELS Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging. Kinematics and sizes are used to derive dynamical masses. Baryonic masses are estimated from stellar masses and inferred gas masses from dust-corrected star formation rates (SFRs) and the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation. We measure resolved rotation for 105 galaxies. For the remaining 576 galaxies we use models based on HST imaging structural parameters together with integrated velocity dispersions and baryonic masses to statistically constrain the median ratio of intrinsic ordered to disordered motion,. We find that increases with increasing stellar mass and decreasing specific SFR (sSFR). These trends may reflect marginal disk stability, where systems with higher gas fractions have thicker disks. For galaxies with detected rotation we assess trends between their kinematics and mass, sSFR, and baryon surface density (Σbar,e). Intrinsic dispersion correlates most with Σbar,e, and velocity correlates most with mass. By comparing dynamical and baryonic masses, we find that galaxies at z &tild; 1.4-3.8 are baryon dominated within their effective radii (RE), with Mdyn/Mbaryon increasing over time. The inferred baryon fractions within RE, fbar, decrease over time, even at fixed mass, size, or surface density. At fixed redshift, fbar does not appear to vary with stellar mass but increases with decreasing RE and increasing Σbar,e. For galaxies at z ≥ 2, the median inferred baryon fractions generally exceed 100%. We discuss possible explanations and future avenues to resolve this tension.

Original languageEnglish
Article number91
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume894
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 10 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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