The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate
We identify the intrinsic dependence of star formation quenching on a variety of galactic and environmental parameters, utilizing a machine-learning approach with Random Forest classification. We have previously demonstrated the power of this technique to isolate causality, not mere correlation, in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acac7c |
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| author | Asa F. L. Bluck Joanna M. Piotrowska Roberto Maiolino |
| author_facet | Asa F. L. Bluck Joanna M. Piotrowska Roberto Maiolino |
| author_sort | Asa F. L. Bluck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We identify the intrinsic dependence of star formation quenching on a variety of galactic and environmental parameters, utilizing a machine-learning approach with Random Forest classification. We have previously demonstrated the power of this technique to isolate causality, not mere correlation, in complex astronomical data. First, we analyze three cosmological hydrodynamical simulations (Eagle, Illustris, and IllustrisTNG), selecting snapshots spanning the bulk of cosmic history from comic noon ( z ∼ 2) to the present epoch, with stellar masses in the range $9\lt \mathrm{log}({M}_{* }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 12$ . In the simulations, black hole mass is unanimously found to be the most predictive parameter of central galaxy quenching at all epochs. Perhaps surprisingly, black hole accretion rate (and hence the bolometric luminosity of active galactic nuclei, AGN) is found to be of little predictive power over quenching. This theoretical result is important for observational studies of galaxy quenching, as it cautions against using the current AGN state of a galaxy as a useful proxy for the cumulative impact of AGN feedback on a galactic system. The latter is traced by black hole mass, not AGN luminosity. Additionally, we explore a subset of “observable” parameters, which can be readily measured in extant wide-field galaxy surveys targeting z = 0–2, at $9\lt \mathrm{log}({M}_{* }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 12$ . All three simulations predict that, in lieu of black hole mass, the stellar gravitational potential will outperform the other parameters in predicting quenching. We confirm this theoretical prediction observationally in the SDSS (at low redshifts) and in CANDELS (at intermediate and high redshifts). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:34:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3c6e4afc6c64530bf346dff1e68f279 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:34:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3c6e4afc6c64530bf346dff1e68f2792023-09-03T09:58:15ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-01944110810.3847/1538-4357/acac7cThe Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion RateAsa F. L. Bluck0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6395-4504Joanna M. Piotrowska1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1661-2338Roberto Maiolino2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4985-3819Department of Physics, Florida International University , 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199 USA ; abluck@fiu.eduKavli Institute for Cosmology, University of Cambridge , Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK; Cavendish Laboratory—Astrophysics Group, University of Cambridge , 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UKKavli Institute for Cosmology, University of Cambridge , Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK; Cavendish Laboratory—Astrophysics Group, University of Cambridge , 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UKWe identify the intrinsic dependence of star formation quenching on a variety of galactic and environmental parameters, utilizing a machine-learning approach with Random Forest classification. We have previously demonstrated the power of this technique to isolate causality, not mere correlation, in complex astronomical data. First, we analyze three cosmological hydrodynamical simulations (Eagle, Illustris, and IllustrisTNG), selecting snapshots spanning the bulk of cosmic history from comic noon ( z ∼ 2) to the present epoch, with stellar masses in the range $9\lt \mathrm{log}({M}_{* }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 12$ . In the simulations, black hole mass is unanimously found to be the most predictive parameter of central galaxy quenching at all epochs. Perhaps surprisingly, black hole accretion rate (and hence the bolometric luminosity of active galactic nuclei, AGN) is found to be of little predictive power over quenching. This theoretical result is important for observational studies of galaxy quenching, as it cautions against using the current AGN state of a galaxy as a useful proxy for the cumulative impact of AGN feedback on a galactic system. The latter is traced by black hole mass, not AGN luminosity. Additionally, we explore a subset of “observable” parameters, which can be readily measured in extant wide-field galaxy surveys targeting z = 0–2, at $9\lt \mathrm{log}({M}_{* }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 12$ . All three simulations predict that, in lieu of black hole mass, the stellar gravitational potential will outperform the other parameters in predicting quenching. We confirm this theoretical prediction observationally in the SDSS (at low redshifts) and in CANDELS (at intermediate and high redshifts).https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acac7cGalaxy evolution |
| spellingShingle | Asa F. L. Bluck Joanna M. Piotrowska Roberto Maiolino The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate The Astrophysical Journal Galaxy evolution |
| title | The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate |
| title_full | The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate |
| title_fullStr | The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate |
| title_short | The Fundamental Signature of Star Formation Quenching from AGN Feedback: A Critical Dependence of Quiescence on Supermassive Black Hole Mass, Not Accretion Rate |
| title_sort | fundamental signature of star formation quenching from agn feedback a critical dependence of quiescence on supermassive black hole mass not accretion rate |
| topic | Galaxy evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acac7c |
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