Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS

Katherine Chworowsky; Steven L. Finkelstein; Michael Boylan-Kolchin; Elizabeth J. McGrath; Kartheik G. Iyer; Casey Papovich; Mark Dickinson; Anthony J. Taylor; L. Y.Aaron Yung; Pablo Arrabal Haro; Micaela B. Bagley; Bren E. Backhaus; Rachana Bhatawdekar; Yingjie Cheng; Nikko J. Cleri; Justin W. Cole; M. C. Cooper; Luca Costantin; Avishai Dekel; Maximilien Franco; Seiji Fujimoto; Christopher C. Hayward; Benne W. Holwerda; Marc Huertas-Company; Michaela Hirschmann; Taylor A. Hutchison; Anton M. Koekemoer; Rebecca L. Larson; Zhaozhou Li; Arianna S. Long; Ray A. Lucas; Nor Pirzkal; Giulia Rodighiero; Rachel S. Somerville; Brittany N. Vanderhoof; Alexander de la Vega; Stephen M. Wilkins; Guang Yang; Jorge A. Zavala

doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS

Katherine Chworowsky, Steven L. Finkelstein, Michael Boylan-Kolchin, Elizabeth J. McGrath, Kartheik G. Iyer, Casey Papovich, Mark Dickinson, Anthony J. Taylor, L. Y.Aaron Yung, Pablo Arrabal Haro, Micaela B. Bagley, Bren E. Backhaus, Rachana Bhatawdekar, Yingjie Cheng, Nikko J. Cleri, Justin W. Cole, M. C. Cooper, Luca Costantin, Avishai Dekel, Maximilien FrancoSeiji Fujimoto, Christopher C. Hayward, Benne W. Holwerda, Marc Huertas-Company, Michaela Hirschmann, Taylor A. Hutchison, Anton M. Koekemoer, Rebecca L. Larson, Zhaozhou Li, Arianna S. Long, Ray A. Lucas, Nor Pirzkal, Giulia Rodighiero, Rachel S. Somerville, Brittany N. Vanderhoof, Alexander de la Vega, Stephen M. Wilkins, Guang Yang, Jorge A. Zavala

Racah Institute of Physics

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

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We analyze the evolution of massive (log₁₀[M _⋆/M _⊙] > 10) galaxies at z ∼ 4-8 selected from JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Release Survey (CEERS). We infer the physical properties of all galaxies in the CEERS NIRCam imaging through spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with dense basis to select a sample of high-redshift massive galaxies. Where available we include constraints from additional CEERS observing modes, including 18 sources with MIRI photometric coverage, and 28 sources with spectroscopic confirmations from NIRSpec or NIRCam WFSS. We sample the recovered posteriors in stellar mass from SED fitting to infer the volume densities of massive galaxies across cosmic time, taking into consideration the potential for sample contamination by active galactic nuclei. We find that the evolving abundance of massive galaxies tracks expectations based on a constant baryon conversion efficiency in dark matter halos for z ∼ 4-8. At higher redshifts, we observe an excess abundance of massive galaxies relative to this simple model, resulting in a shallower decline of observed volume densities of massive galaxies. These higher abundances can be explained by modest changes to star formation physics and/or the efficiencies with which star formation occurs in massive dark matter halos, and are not in tension with modern cosmology.

Original language	English
Article number	113
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	168
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1
State	Published - 1 Sep 2024

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Publisher Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

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Chworowsky, K., Finkelstein, S. L., Boylan-Kolchin, M., McGrath, E. J., Iyer, K. G., Papovich, C., Dickinson, M., Taylor, A. J., Yung, L. Y. A., Arrabal Haro, P., Bagley, M. B., Backhaus, B. E., Bhatawdekar, R., Cheng, Y., Cleri, N. J., Cole, J. W., Cooper, M. C., Costantin, L., Dekel, A., ... Zavala, J. A. (2024). Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS. Astronomical Journal, 168(3), Article 113. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

@article{f1a71527aee243698d0c20263bf39412,

title = "Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS",

abstract = "We analyze the evolution of massive (log10[M ⋆/M ⊙] > 10) galaxies at z ∼ 4-8 selected from JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Release Survey (CEERS). We infer the physical properties of all galaxies in the CEERS NIRCam imaging through spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with dense basis to select a sample of high-redshift massive galaxies. Where available we include constraints from additional CEERS observing modes, including 18 sources with MIRI photometric coverage, and 28 sources with spectroscopic confirmations from NIRSpec or NIRCam WFSS. We sample the recovered posteriors in stellar mass from SED fitting to infer the volume densities of massive galaxies across cosmic time, taking into consideration the potential for sample contamination by active galactic nuclei. We find that the evolving abundance of massive galaxies tracks expectations based on a constant baryon conversion efficiency in dark matter halos for z ∼ 4-8. At higher redshifts, we observe an excess abundance of massive galaxies relative to this simple model, resulting in a shallower decline of observed volume densities of massive galaxies. These higher abundances can be explained by modest changes to star formation physics and/or the efficiencies with which star formation occurs in massive dark matter halos, and are not in tension with modern cosmology.",

author = "Katherine Chworowsky and Finkelstein, {Steven L.} and Michael Boylan-Kolchin and McGrath, {Elizabeth J.} and Iyer, {Kartheik G.} and Casey Papovich and Mark Dickinson and Taylor, {Anthony J.} and Yung, {L. Y.Aaron} and {Arrabal Haro}, Pablo and Bagley, {Micaela B.} and Backhaus, {Bren E.} and Rachana Bhatawdekar and Yingjie Cheng and Cleri, {Nikko J.} and Cole, {Justin W.} and Cooper, {M. C.} and Luca Costantin and Avishai Dekel and Maximilien Franco and Seiji Fujimoto and Hayward, {Christopher C.} and Holwerda, {Benne W.} and Marc Huertas-Company and Michaela Hirschmann and Hutchison, {Taylor A.} and Koekemoer, {Anton M.} and Larson, {Rebecca L.} and Zhaozhou Li and Long, {Arianna S.} and Lucas, {Ray A.} and Nor Pirzkal and Giulia Rodighiero and Somerville, {Rachel S.} and Vanderhoof, {Brittany N.} and {de la Vega}, Alexander and Wilkins, {Stephen M.} and Guang Yang and Zavala, {Jorge A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",

year = "2024",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1",

language = "אנגלית",

volume = "168",

journal = "Astronomical Journal",

issn = "0004-6256",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "3",

}

Chworowsky, K, Finkelstein, SL, Boylan-Kolchin, M, McGrath, EJ, Iyer, KG, Papovich, C, Dickinson, M, Taylor, AJ, Yung, LYA, Arrabal Haro, P, Bagley, MB, Backhaus, BE, Bhatawdekar, R, Cheng, Y, Cleri, NJ, Cole, JW, Cooper, MC, Costantin, L, Dekel, A, Franco, M, Fujimoto, S, Hayward, CC, Holwerda, BW, Huertas-Company, M, Hirschmann, M, Hutchison, TA, Koekemoer, AM, Larson, RL, Li, Z, Long, AS, Lucas, RA, Pirzkal, N, Rodighiero, G, Somerville, RS, Vanderhoof, BN, de la Vega, A, Wilkins, SM, Yang, G & Zavala, JA 2024, 'Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS', Astronomical Journal, vol. 168, no. 3, 113. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS

AU - Chworowsky, Katherine

AU - Finkelstein, Steven L.

AU - Boylan-Kolchin, Michael

AU - McGrath, Elizabeth J.

AU - Iyer, Kartheik G.

AU - Papovich, Casey

AU - Dickinson, Mark

AU - Taylor, Anthony J.

AU - Yung, L. Y.Aaron

AU - Arrabal Haro, Pablo

AU - Bagley, Micaela B.

AU - Backhaus, Bren E.

AU - Bhatawdekar, Rachana

AU - Cheng, Yingjie

AU - Cleri, Nikko J.

AU - Cole, Justin W.

AU - Cooper, M. C.

AU - Costantin, Luca

AU - Dekel, Avishai

AU - Franco, Maximilien

AU - Fujimoto, Seiji

AU - Hayward, Christopher C.

AU - Holwerda, Benne W.

AU - Huertas-Company, Marc

AU - Hirschmann, Michaela

AU - Hutchison, Taylor A.

AU - Koekemoer, Anton M.

AU - Larson, Rebecca L.

AU - Li, Zhaozhou

AU - Long, Arianna S.

AU - Lucas, Ray A.

AU - Pirzkal, Nor

AU - Rodighiero, Giulia

AU - Somerville, Rachel S.

AU - Vanderhoof, Brittany N.

AU - de la Vega, Alexander

AU - Wilkins, Stephen M.

AU - Yang, Guang

AU - Zavala, Jorge A.

PY - 2024/9/1

Y1 - 2024/9/1

N2 - We analyze the evolution of massive (log10[M ⋆/M ⊙] > 10) galaxies at z ∼ 4-8 selected from JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Release Survey (CEERS). We infer the physical properties of all galaxies in the CEERS NIRCam imaging through spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with dense basis to select a sample of high-redshift massive galaxies. Where available we include constraints from additional CEERS observing modes, including 18 sources with MIRI photometric coverage, and 28 sources with spectroscopic confirmations from NIRSpec or NIRCam WFSS. We sample the recovered posteriors in stellar mass from SED fitting to infer the volume densities of massive galaxies across cosmic time, taking into consideration the potential for sample contamination by active galactic nuclei. We find that the evolving abundance of massive galaxies tracks expectations based on a constant baryon conversion efficiency in dark matter halos for z ∼ 4-8. At higher redshifts, we observe an excess abundance of massive galaxies relative to this simple model, resulting in a shallower decline of observed volume densities of massive galaxies. These higher abundances can be explained by modest changes to star formation physics and/or the efficiencies with which star formation occurs in massive dark matter halos, and are not in tension with modern cosmology.

AB - We analyze the evolution of massive (log10[M ⋆/M ⊙] > 10) galaxies at z ∼ 4-8 selected from JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Release Survey (CEERS). We infer the physical properties of all galaxies in the CEERS NIRCam imaging through spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with dense basis to select a sample of high-redshift massive galaxies. Where available we include constraints from additional CEERS observing modes, including 18 sources with MIRI photometric coverage, and 28 sources with spectroscopic confirmations from NIRSpec or NIRCam WFSS. We sample the recovered posteriors in stellar mass from SED fitting to infer the volume densities of massive galaxies across cosmic time, taking into consideration the potential for sample contamination by active galactic nuclei. We find that the evolving abundance of massive galaxies tracks expectations based on a constant baryon conversion efficiency in dark matter halos for z ∼ 4-8. At higher redshifts, we observe an excess abundance of massive galaxies relative to this simple model, resulting in a shallower decline of observed volume densities of massive galaxies. These higher abundances can be explained by modest changes to star formation physics and/or the efficiencies with which star formation occurs in massive dark matter halos, and are not in tension with modern cosmology.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202684818&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

DO - 10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

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AN - SCOPUS:85202684818

SN - 0004-6256

VL - 168

JO - Astronomical Journal

JF - Astronomical Journal

IS - 3

M1 - 113

ER -

Evidence for a Shallow Evolution in the Volume Densities of Massive Galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS

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