Evidence for progressive loss of star-forming gas in SDSS galaxies

F. Calura, R. Jimenez, B. Panter, F. Matteucci, A. F. Heavens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Using the star formation rates from the SDSS galaxy sample, extracted using the MOPED algorithm, and the empirical Kennicutt law relating star formation rate to gas density, we calculate the time evolution of the gas fraction as a function of the present stellar mass. We show how the gas- to-stars ratio varies with stellar mass, finding good agreement with previous results for smaller samples at the present epoch. For the first time we show clear evidence for progressive gas loss with cosmic epoch, especially in low-mass systems. We find that galaxies with small stellar masses have lost almost all of their cold baryons over time, whereas the most massive galaxies have lost little. Our results also show that the most massive galaxies have evolved faster and turned most of their gas into stars at an early time, thus strongly supporting a downsizing scenario for galaxy evolution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)252-261
Number of pages10
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume682
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jul 2008

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • galaxies : evolution
  • galaxies : fundamental parameters
  • DIGITAL SKY SURVEY
  • DWARF GALAXIES
  • FORMATION HISTORIES
  • CHEMICAL EVOLUTION
  • ELLIPTIC GALAXIES
  • ANGULAR-MOMENTUM
  • BARYON FRACTION
  • GALACTIC HALOS
  • TIDAL TORQUES
  • MASS FUNCTION

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