Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors

Joel Leja; Pieter G. Van Dokkum; Ivelina Momcheva; Gabriel Brammer; Rosalind E. Skelton; Katherine E. Whitaker; Brett H. Andrews; Marijn Franx; Mariska Kriek; Arjen Van Der Wel; Rachel Bezanson; Charlie Conroy; Natascha Förster Schreiber; Erica Nelson; Shannon G. Patel

doi:10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors

Joel Leja
, Pieter G. Van Dokkum
, Ivelina Momcheva
, Gabriel Brammer
, Rosalind E. Skelton
, Katherine E. Whitaker
, Brett H. Andrews
, Marijn Franx
, Mariska Kriek
, Arjen Van Der Wel
, Rachel Bezanson
, Charlie Conroy
, Natascha Förster Schreiber
, Erica Nelson
, Shannon G. Patel

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present Keck/MOSFIRE K-band spectroscopy of the first mass-selected sample of galaxies at z ∼ 2.3. Targets are selected from the 3D-Hubble Space Telescope Treasury survey. The six detected galaxies have a mean [N II]λ6584/Hα ratio of 0.27 ± 0.01, with a small standard deviation of 0.05. This mean value is similar to that of UV-selected galaxies of the same mass. The mean gas-phase oxygen abundance inferred from the [N II]/Hα ratios depends on the calibration method, and ranges from 12+log(O/H)_gas = 8.57 for the Pettini & Pagel calibration to 12+log(O/H)_gas = 8.87 for the Maiolino et al. calibration. Measurements of the stellar oxygen abundance in nearby quiescent galaxies with the same number density indicate 12+log(O/H)_stars = 8.95, similar to the gas-phase abundances of the z ∼ 2.3 galaxies if the Maiolino et al. calibration is used. This suggests that these high-redshift star forming galaxies may be progenitors of today's massive early-type galaxies. The main uncertainties are the absolute calibration of the gas-phase oxygen abundance and the incompleteness of the z ∼ 2.3 sample: the galaxies with detected Hα tend to be larger and have higher star formation rates than the galaxies without detected Hα, and we may still be missing the most dust-obscured progenitors.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L24
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	778
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24
State	Published - Dec 1 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

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Leja, J., Van Dokkum, P. G., Momcheva, I., Brammer, G., Skelton, R. E., Whitaker, K. E., Andrews, B. H., Franx, M., Kriek, M., Van Der Wel, A., Bezanson, R., Conroy, C., Förster Schreiber, N., Nelson, E., & Patel, S. G. (2013). Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 778(2), Article L24. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

@article{a81e516116d541e28378bee1d866b22f,

title = "Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors",

abstract = "We present Keck/MOSFIRE K-band spectroscopy of the first mass-selected sample of galaxies at z ∼ 2.3. Targets are selected from the 3D-Hubble Space Telescope Treasury survey. The six detected galaxies have a mean [N II]λ6584/Hα ratio of 0.27 ± 0.01, with a small standard deviation of 0.05. This mean value is similar to that of UV-selected galaxies of the same mass. The mean gas-phase oxygen abundance inferred from the [N II]/Hα ratios depends on the calibration method, and ranges from 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.57 for the Pettini \& Pagel calibration to 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.87 for the Maiolino et al. calibration. Measurements of the stellar oxygen abundance in nearby quiescent galaxies with the same number density indicate 12+log(O/H)stars = 8.95, similar to the gas-phase abundances of the z ∼ 2.3 galaxies if the Maiolino et al. calibration is used. This suggests that these high-redshift star forming galaxies may be progenitors of today's massive early-type galaxies. The main uncertainties are the absolute calibration of the gas-phase oxygen abundance and the incompleteness of the z ∼ 2.3 sample: the galaxies with detected Hα tend to be larger and have higher star formation rates than the galaxies without detected Hα, and we may still be missing the most dust-obscured progenitors.",

author = "Joel Leja and \{Van Dokkum\}, \{Pieter G.\} and Ivelina Momcheva and Gabriel Brammer and Skelton, \{Rosalind E.\} and Whitaker, \{Katherine E.\} and Andrews, \{Brett H.\} and Marijn Franx and Mariska Kriek and \{Van Der Wel\}, Arjen and Rachel Bezanson and Charlie Conroy and \{F{\"o}rster Schreiber\}, Natascha and Erica Nelson and Patel, \{Shannon G.\}",

year = "2013",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "778",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

}

Leja, J, Van Dokkum, PG, Momcheva, I, Brammer, G, Skelton, RE, Whitaker, KE, Andrews, BH, Franx, M, Kriek, M, Van Der Wel, A, Bezanson, R, Conroy, C, Förster Schreiber, N, Nelson, E & Patel, SG 2013, 'Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 778, no. 2, L24. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors

AU - Leja, Joel

AU - Van Dokkum, Pieter G.

AU - Momcheva, Ivelina

AU - Brammer, Gabriel

AU - Skelton, Rosalind E.

AU - Whitaker, Katherine E.

AU - Andrews, Brett H.

AU - Franx, Marijn

AU - Kriek, Mariska

AU - Van Der Wel, Arjen

AU - Bezanson, Rachel

AU - Conroy, Charlie

AU - Förster Schreiber, Natascha

AU - Nelson, Erica

AU - Patel, Shannon G.

PY - 2013/12/1

Y1 - 2013/12/1

N2 - We present Keck/MOSFIRE K-band spectroscopy of the first mass-selected sample of galaxies at z ∼ 2.3. Targets are selected from the 3D-Hubble Space Telescope Treasury survey. The six detected galaxies have a mean [N II]λ6584/Hα ratio of 0.27 ± 0.01, with a small standard deviation of 0.05. This mean value is similar to that of UV-selected galaxies of the same mass. The mean gas-phase oxygen abundance inferred from the [N II]/Hα ratios depends on the calibration method, and ranges from 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.57 for the Pettini & Pagel calibration to 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.87 for the Maiolino et al. calibration. Measurements of the stellar oxygen abundance in nearby quiescent galaxies with the same number density indicate 12+log(O/H)stars = 8.95, similar to the gas-phase abundances of the z ∼ 2.3 galaxies if the Maiolino et al. calibration is used. This suggests that these high-redshift star forming galaxies may be progenitors of today's massive early-type galaxies. The main uncertainties are the absolute calibration of the gas-phase oxygen abundance and the incompleteness of the z ∼ 2.3 sample: the galaxies with detected Hα tend to be larger and have higher star formation rates than the galaxies without detected Hα, and we may still be missing the most dust-obscured progenitors.

AB - We present Keck/MOSFIRE K-band spectroscopy of the first mass-selected sample of galaxies at z ∼ 2.3. Targets are selected from the 3D-Hubble Space Telescope Treasury survey. The six detected galaxies have a mean [N II]λ6584/Hα ratio of 0.27 ± 0.01, with a small standard deviation of 0.05. This mean value is similar to that of UV-selected galaxies of the same mass. The mean gas-phase oxygen abundance inferred from the [N II]/Hα ratios depends on the calibration method, and ranges from 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.57 for the Pettini & Pagel calibration to 12+log(O/H)gas = 8.87 for the Maiolino et al. calibration. Measurements of the stellar oxygen abundance in nearby quiescent galaxies with the same number density indicate 12+log(O/H)stars = 8.95, similar to the gas-phase abundances of the z ∼ 2.3 galaxies if the Maiolino et al. calibration is used. This suggests that these high-redshift star forming galaxies may be progenitors of today's massive early-type galaxies. The main uncertainties are the absolute calibration of the gas-phase oxygen abundance and the incompleteness of the z ∼ 2.3 sample: the galaxies with detected Hα tend to be larger and have higher star formation rates than the galaxies without detected Hα, and we may still be missing the most dust-obscured progenitors.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84888591211

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84888591211#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/778/2/L24

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84888591211

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 778

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 2

M1 - L24

ER -

Exploring the chemical link between local ellipticals and their high-redshift progenitors

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