The main sequence of star-forming galaxies - II. A non-evolving slope at the high-mass end

Popesso, P.; Morselli, L.; Concas, A.; Schreiber, C.; Rodighiero, G.; Cresci, G.; Belli, S.; Ilbert, O.; Erfanianfar, G.; Mancini, C.; Inami, H.; Dickinson, M.; Pannella, M. and Elbaz, D. (2019): The main sequence of star-forming galaxies - II. A non-evolving slope at the high-mass end. In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 490, No. 4: pp. 5285-5299

Abstract

By using the deepest available mid- and far-infrared surveys in the CANDELS, GOODS, and COSMOS fields we study the evolution of the main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies (SFGs) from z similar to 0 to similar to 2.5 at stellar masses larger than 10(10) M-circle dot. The MS slope and scatter are consistent with a rescaled version of the local relation and distribution, shifted at higher values of star formation rate (SFR) according to proportional to (1 + z)(3.2). The relation exhibits a bending at the high-mass end and a slightly increasing scatter as a function of the stellar mass. We show that the previously reported evolution of the MS slope, in the considered mass and redshift range, is due to a selection effect. The distribution of galaxies in the MS region at fixed stellar mass is well represented by a single lognormal distribution at all redshifts and masses, with starburst galaxies occupying the tail at high SFR.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Physics
• Subjects: 500 Science > 530 Physics
• ISSN: 0035-8711
• Language: English