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Specific star formation rates in the Mbh-M*,sph diagram and the evolutionary pathways of galaxies across the sSFR-M* diagram.

Authors :
Graham, Alister W
Jarrett, T H
Cluver, M E
Source :
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; Feb2024, Vol. 527 Issue 4, p10059-10076, 18p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

It has been suggested that the bulge-to-total stellar mass ratio or feedback from black holes (BHs), traced by the BH-to-(total stellar) mass ratio, might establish a galaxy's specific star formation rate (sSFR). We reveal that a galaxy's morphology – reflecting its formation history, particularly accretions and mergers – is a far better determinant of the sSFR. Consequently, we suggest that galaxy formation models which regulate the sSFR primarily through BH feedback prescriptions or bulge-regulated disc fragmentation consider acquisitions and mergers which establish the galaxy morphology. We additionally make several new observations regarding current (z ∼ 0) star-formation rates. (i) Galaxies with little to no star formation have bulges with an extensive range of stellar masses; bulge mass does not dictate presence/absence on the 'star-forming main sequence'. (ii) The (wet merger)-built, dust-rich S0 galaxies are the 'green valley' bridging population between elliptical galaxies on the 'red sequence' and spiral galaxies on the blue star-forming main sequence. (iii) The dust-poor S0 galaxies are not on the star-forming main sequence nor in the 'green valley'. Instead, they wait in the field for gas accretion and/or minor mergers to transform them into spiral galaxies. Mid-infrared sample selection can miss these (primordial) low dust-content and low stellar-luminosity S0 galaxies. Finally, the appearance of the quasi-triangular-shaped galaxy-assembly sequence, previously dubbed the 'Triangal', which tracks the morphological evolution of galaxies, is revealed in the sSFR-(stellar mass) diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00358711
Volume :
527
Issue :
4
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
175010933
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad3795