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| Paper: |
Post-Starburst Galaxies: Probing the Role of Mergers and AGN
Activity in Quenching Star Formation |
| Volume: |
477, Galaxy Mergers in an Evolving Universe |
| Page: |
211 |
| Authors: |
Trouille, L.; Tremonti, C. A.; Chen, Y.-M.; Crowley-Farenga, J.; Rice, W.; Loftus, P. |
| Abstract: |
We conduct a visual morphological classification of a sample of 2812
Sloan Digital Sky Survey post-starburst galaxies. We find a mass
dependence in the fraction of post-starbursts exhibiting merger
signatures; those with stellar masses above 1010.5 M☉ are
1.7 times more likely to exhibit merger signatures than those with
lower masses. We also find a higher likelihood of Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN) in more massive post-starburst galaxies; of the
post-starbursts that can be placed on the BPT optical emission line
diagnostic, 91% (25%) with M* ≥ 1010.5M☉ (M* <
1010.5M☉) host AGN. Post-starbursts that do harbor AGN
activity appear to have experienced a significant time delay, more
than a few 100 Myr, between the quenching of star formation and the
onset of AGN activity. This suggests that AGN feedback in
post-starburst galaxies plays more of a
‘maintenance’ role (preventing further episodes of star formation),
rather than a direct quenching role. |
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