Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years

S. Kaviraj; R. M. Crockett; J. Silk; R. S. Ellis; S. K. Yi; R. W. O'Connell; R. Windhorst; B. C. Whitmore

doi:10.1017/S1743921312009623

Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years

S. Kaviraj, R. M. Crockett, J. Silk, R. S. Ellis, S. K. Yi, R. W. O'Connell, R. Windhorst, B. C. Whitmore

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We summarise recent progress in understanding the star formation activity in early-type galaxies (ETGs), using recent studies that leverage photometry in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. While classically thought to be old, passively-evolving systems, recent UV studies have revealed widespread star formation in ETGs, with ∼20% of the stellar mass in today's ETGs forming at late epochs (z < 1). A strong correlation is found between the presence of morphological disturbances and blue UV colours, suggesting that the star formation is merger-driven. However, the major merger rate at late epochs is far too low to satisfy the number of disturbed ETGs, indicating that minor mergers drive the star formation in these galaxies over the latter half of cosmic time. Together with the recent literature which suggests that minor mergers may drive the size evolution of massive ETGs, these results highlight the significant role of minor mergers in driving the evolution of massive galaxies in the low and intermediate-redshift Universe.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies
Editors	Richard J. Tuffs, Cristina C. Popescu
Pages	460-464
Number of pages	5
Edition	S284
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312009623
Publication status	Published - 2011 Sep

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Number	S284
Volume	7
ISSN (Print)	1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)	1743-9221

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Nutrition and Dietetics
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Space and Planetary Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goal(s)

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Kaviraj, S., Crockett, R. M., Silk, J., Ellis, R. S., Yi, S. K., O'Connell, R. W., Windhorst, R., & Whitmore, B. C. (2011). Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years. In R. J. Tuffs, & C. C. Popescu (Eds.), The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies (S284 ed., pp. 460-464). (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union; Vol. 7, No. S284). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312009623

Kaviraj, S. ; Crockett, R. M. ; Silk, J. ; Ellis, R. S. ; Yi, S. K. ; O'Connell, R. W. ; Windhorst, R. ; Whitmore, B. C. / Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years. The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies. editor / Richard J. Tuffs ; Cristina C. Popescu. S284. ed. 2011. pp. 460-464 (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union; S284).

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title = "Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years",

abstract = "We summarise recent progress in understanding the star formation activity in early-type galaxies (ETGs), using recent studies that leverage photometry in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. While classically thought to be old, passively-evolving systems, recent UV studies have revealed widespread star formation in ETGs, with ∼20% of the stellar mass in today's ETGs forming at late epochs (z < 1). A strong correlation is found between the presence of morphological disturbances and blue UV colours, suggesting that the star formation is merger-driven. However, the major merger rate at late epochs is far too low to satisfy the number of disturbed ETGs, indicating that minor mergers drive the star formation in these galaxies over the latter half of cosmic time. Together with the recent literature which suggests that minor mergers may drive the size evolution of massive ETGs, these results highlight the significant role of minor mergers in driving the evolution of massive galaxies in the low and intermediate-redshift Universe.",

author = "S. Kaviraj and Crockett, {R. M.} and J. Silk and Ellis, {R. S.} and Yi, {S. K.} and O'Connell, {R. W.} and R. Windhorst and Whitmore, {B. C.}",

year = "2011",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1017/S1743921312009623",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781107019843",

series = "Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union",

number = "S284",

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Kaviraj, S, Crockett, RM, Silk, J, Ellis, RS, Yi, SK, O'Connell, RW, Windhorst, R & Whitmore, BC 2011, Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years. in RJ Tuffs & CC Popescu (eds), The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies. S284 edn, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, no. S284, vol. 7, pp. 460-464. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921312009623

Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years. / Kaviraj, S.; Crockett, R. M.; Silk, J.; Ellis, R. S.; Yi, S. K.; O'Connell, R. W.; Windhorst, R.; Whitmore, B. C.

The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies. ed. / Richard J. Tuffs; Cristina C. Popescu. S284. ed. 2011. p. 460-464 (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union; Vol. 7, No. S284).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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N2 - We summarise recent progress in understanding the star formation activity in early-type galaxies (ETGs), using recent studies that leverage photometry in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. While classically thought to be old, passively-evolving systems, recent UV studies have revealed widespread star formation in ETGs, with ∼20% of the stellar mass in today's ETGs forming at late epochs (z < 1). A strong correlation is found between the presence of morphological disturbances and blue UV colours, suggesting that the star formation is merger-driven. However, the major merger rate at late epochs is far too low to satisfy the number of disturbed ETGs, indicating that minor mergers drive the star formation in these galaxies over the latter half of cosmic time. Together with the recent literature which suggests that minor mergers may drive the size evolution of massive ETGs, these results highlight the significant role of minor mergers in driving the evolution of massive galaxies in the low and intermediate-redshift Universe.

AB - We summarise recent progress in understanding the star formation activity in early-type galaxies (ETGs), using recent studies that leverage photometry in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. While classically thought to be old, passively-evolving systems, recent UV studies have revealed widespread star formation in ETGs, with ∼20% of the stellar mass in today's ETGs forming at late epochs (z < 1). A strong correlation is found between the presence of morphological disturbances and blue UV colours, suggesting that the star formation is merger-driven. However, the major merger rate at late epochs is far too low to satisfy the number of disturbed ETGs, indicating that minor mergers drive the star formation in these galaxies over the latter half of cosmic time. Together with the recent literature which suggests that minor mergers may drive the size evolution of massive ETGs, these results highlight the significant role of minor mergers in driving the evolution of massive galaxies in the low and intermediate-redshift Universe.

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Minor-merger-driven growth of early-type galaxies over the last 8 billion years

Abstract

Publication series

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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