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We present ALMA detections of the [CI] 1-0, CO J = 3-2, and CO J = 4-3 emission lines, as well as the ALMA band 4 continuum for a compact star-forming galaxy (cSFG) at z = 2.225, 3D-HST GS30274. As is typical for cSFGs, this galaxy has a stellar mass of 1.89 ± 0.47 × 1011M⊙, with a star formation rate (SFR) of 214 ± 44 M⊙ yr-1 putting it on the star-forming "main-sequence", but with an H-band effective radius of 2.5 kpc, making it much smaller than the bulk of "main-sequence" star-forming galaxies. The intensity ratio of the line detections yield an ISM density (~6 × 104 cm-3) and a UV-radiation field (~2 × 104G0), similar to the values in local starburst and ultra-luminous infrared galaxy environments. A starburst phase is consistent with the short depletion times (tH2,dep ≤ 140 Myr) we find in 3D-HST GS30274 using three different proxies for the H2 mass ([CI], CO, dust mass). This depletion time is significantly shorter than in more extended SFGs with similar stellar masses and SFRs. Moreover, the gas fraction of 3D-HST GS30274 is smaller than typically found in extended galaxies. We measure the CO and [CI] kinematics and find a FWHM line width of ~750 ± 41 km s-1. The CO and [CI] FWHM are consistent with a previously measured Hα FWHM for this source. The line widths are consistent with gravitational motions, suggesting we are seeing a compact molecular gas reservoir. A previous merger event, as suggested by the asymmetric light profile, may be responsible for the compact distribution of gas and has triggered a central starburst event. This event gives rise to the starburst-like ISM properties and short depletion times in 3D-HST GS30274. The centrally located and efficient star formation is quickly building up a dense core of stars, responsible for the compact distribution of stellar light in 3D-HST GS30274. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galaxy formation models invoke the presence of strong feedback mechanisms that regulate the growth of massive galaxies at high redshifts. Providing observational evidence of these processes is crucial to justify and improve these prescriptions. In this paper we aim to (1) confirm spectroscopically the redshifts of a sample of massive galaxies selected with photometric redshifts zphot > 2.5; (2) investigate the properties of their stellar and interstellar media; (3) detect the presence of outflows and measure their velocities. To achieve this, we analysed deep, high-resolution (R ≈ 2000) FORS2 rest-frame UV spectra for 11 targets. We confirmed that 9 out of 11 have spectroscopic redshifts zspec > 2.5. We also serendipitously found two mask fillers at redshift zspec > 2.5, which originally were assigned photometric redshifts 2.0 < zphot < 2.5. In the four highest quality spectra we derived outflow velocities by fitting the absorption line profiles with models including multiple dynamical components. We found strongly asymmetric, high-ionisation lines, from which we derived outflow velocities ranging between 480 kms−1 and 1518 km s−1. The two highest velocity outflows correspond to galaxies with active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We revised the spectral energy distribution fitting U-band through 8 μm photometry, including the analysis of a power-law component subtraction to identify the possible presence of AGNs. The revised stellar masses of all but one of our targets are >∼1010 M⊙, with four having stellar masses >5×1010 M⊙. Three galaxies have significant power-law components in their spectral energy distributions, indicating that they host AGNs. We conclude that massive galaxies are characterised by significantly higher velocity outflows than the typical Lyman-break galaxies at z ∼ 3. The incidence of high-velocity outflows (∼40% within our sample) is also much higher than among massive galaxies at z < 1, consistent with the powerful star formation and nuclear activity that most massive galaxies display at z > 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]