A fast-rotator post-starburst galaxy quenched by supermassive black-hole feedback at z = 3

Abstract The most massive galaxies in the Universe stopped forming stars due to the time-integrated feedback from central supermassive black holes (SMBHs). However, the exact quenching mechanism is not yet understood, because local massive galaxies were quenched billions of years ago. Here we present JWST/NIRSpec integral-field spectroscopy observations of GS-10578, a massive, quiescent galaxy at redshift z = 3.064 ± 0.002. From its spectrum, we measure a stellar mass M ⋆ = 1.6 ± 0.2 × 10 11 M ⊙ and a dynamical mass M dyn = 2.0 ± 0.5 × 10 11 M ⊙ . Half of its stellar mass formed at z = 3.7–4.6, and the system is now quiescent, with a current star-formation rate of less than 19 M ⊙ yr −1 . We detect ionized- and neutral-gas outflows traced by [O iii ] emission and Na i absorption, with mass outflow rates 0.14–2.9 and 30–100 M ⊙ yr −1 , respectively. Outflow velocities reach v out ≈ 1,000 km s −1 , comparable to the galaxy escape velocity. GS-10578 hosts an active galactic nucleus, evidence that these outflows are due to SMBH feedback. The neutral outflow rate is higher than the star-formation rate. Hence, this is direct evidence for ejective SMBH feedback, with a mass loading capable of interrupting star formation by rapidly removing its fuel. Stellar kinematics show ordered rotation, with spin parameter $${\lambda }_{{{{R}}}_{{\rm{e}}}}=0.62\pm 0.07$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>R</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>e</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.62</mml:mn> <mml:mo>±</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.07</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , meaning GS-10578 is rotation-supported. This study presents direct evidence for ejective active galactic nucleus feedback in a massive, recently quenched galaxy, thus helping to clarify how SMBHs quench their hosts. The high value of $${\lambda }_{{{{R}}}_{{\rm{e}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>R</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>e</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> implies that quenching can occur without destroying the stellar disk.

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Journal
Nature Astronomy
Published
2024-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02345-1
Citations
84
Primary Topic
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
27.85

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article

A fast-rotator post-starburst galaxy quenched by supermassive black-hole feedback at z = 3

Nimisha Kumari, G. Cresci, Francesco D’Eugenio, Santiago Arribas et al.
84 citations
Nature Astronomy
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
27.85
article

A fast-rotator post-starburst galaxy quenched by supermassive black-hole feedback at z = 3

Nimisha Kumari, G. Cresci, Francesco D’Eugenio, Santiago Arribas, Bruno Rodríguez Del Pino, Michele Perna, R. Maiolino, Chiara Circosta, Stefano Carniani, Hans‐Walter Rix, Jacopo Chevallard, Sandro Tacchella, Chris J. Willott, Gareth C. Jones, Pablo G. Pérez‐González, S. Charlot, Tobias J. Looser, Hannah Übler, Isabella Lamperti, Jan Scholtz, Emma Curtis-Lake, Andrew J. Bunker, Brant E. Robertson, Giacomo Venturi, Eleonora Parlanti, Torsten Böker
article en
84 citations

Abstract

Abstract The most massive galaxies in the Universe stopped forming stars due to the time-integrated feedback from central supermassive black holes (SMBHs). However, the exact quenching mechanism is not yet understood, because local massive galaxies were quenched billions of years ago. Here we present JWST/NIRSpec integral-field spectroscopy observations of GS-10578, a massive, quiescent galaxy at redshift z = 3.064 ± 0.002. From its spectrum, we measure a stellar mass M ⋆ = 1.6 ± 0.2 × 10 11 M ⊙ and a dynamical mass M dyn = 2.0 ± 0.5 × 10 11 M ⊙ . Half of its stellar mass formed at z = 3.7–4.6, and the system is now quiescent, with a current star-formation rate of less than 19 M ⊙ yr −1 . We detect ionized- and neutral-gas outflows traced by [O iii ] emission and Na i absorption, with mass outflow rates 0.14–2.9 and 30–100 M ⊙ yr −1 , respectively. Outflow velocities reach v out ≈ 1,000 km s −1 , comparable to the galaxy escape velocity. GS-10578 hosts an active galactic nucleus, evidence that these outflows are due to SMBH feedback. The neutral outflow rate is higher than the star-formation rate. Hence, this is direct evidence for ejective SMBH feedback, with a mass loading capable of interrupting star formation by rapidly removing its fuel. Stellar kinematics show ordered rotation, with spin parameter $${\lambda }_{{{{R}}}_{{\rm{e}}}}=0.62\pm 0.07$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>R</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>e</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.62</mml:mn> <mml:mo>±</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0.07</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , meaning GS-10578 is rotation-supported. This study presents direct evidence for ejective active galactic nucleus feedback in a massive, recently quenched galaxy, thus helping to clarify how SMBHs quench their hosts. The high value of $${\lambda }_{{{{R}}}_{{\rm{e}}}}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>R</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>e</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> implies that quenching can occur without destroying the stellar disk.

Nature AstronomyVol. 8(11)
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (CA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Space Telescope Science Institute (US), University of Hertfordshire (GB), Scuola Normale Superiore (IT), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Cambridge (GB), Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory (IT), Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (FR), European Space Agency (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), University of Oxford (GB), European Space Astronomy Centre (ES), Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (DE), Centro de Astrobiología (ES), University College London (GB)
National Science Foundation, Comunidad de Madrid, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Isaac Newton Trust, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Science and Technology Facilities Council, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
27.85
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