The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0

F. Cullen; R. J. McLure; J. S. Dunlop; S. Khochfar; R. Davé; R. Amorín; M. Bolzonella; A. C. Carnall; M. Castellano; A. Cimatti; M. Cirasuolo; G. Cresci; J. P.U. Fynbo; F. Fontanot; A. Gargiulo; B. Garilli; L. Guaita; N. Hathi; P. Hibon; F. Mannucci; F. Marchi; D. J. McLeod; L. Pentericci; L. Pozzetti; A. E. Shapley; M. Talia; G. Zamorani

doi:10.1093/mnras/stz1402

The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0

F. Cullen, R. J. McLure, J. S. Dunlop, S. Khochfar, R. Davé, R. Amorín, M. Bolzonella, A. C. Carnall, M. Castellano, A. Cimatti, M. Cirasuolo, G. Cresci, J. P.U. Fynbo, F. Fontanot, A. Gargiulo, B. Garilli, L. Guaita, N. Hathi, P. Hibon, F. MannucciF. Marchi, D. J. McLeod, L. Pentericci, L. Pozzetti, A. E. Shapley, M. Talia, G. Zamorani

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

82 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present the results of a study utilizing ultradeep, rest-frame UV, spectroscopy to quantify the relationship between stellar mass and stellar metallicity for 681 star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0 (z = 3.5 ± 0.6) drawn from the VANDELS survey. Via a comparison with high-resolution stellar population synthesis models, we determine stellar metallicities (Z., here a proxy for the iron abundance) for a set of high signal-to-noise ratio composite spectra formed from subsamples selected by mass and redshift. Across the stellar mass range 8.5 < log(M_∗/M_⊙) < 10.2, we find a strong correlation between stellar metallicity (Z_∗/Z_⊙) and stellar mass, with stellar metallicity monotonically increasing from Z_∗/Z_⊙ < 0.09 at M_∗ = 3.2 × 10⁸M_⊙ to Z_∗/Z_⊙ = 0.27 at M_⊙ = 1.7 × 10¹⁰M_⊙. In contrast, at a given stellar mass, we find no evidence for significant metallicity evolution across the redshift range of our sample. However, comparing our results to the z = 0 stellar mass.metallicity relation for star-forming galaxies,we find that the z=3.5 relation is consistent with being shifted to lower metallicities by -0.6 dex at all stellar masses. Contrasting our derived stellar metallicities with estimates of the gas-phase metallicities of galaxies at similar redshifts and stellar masses, we find evidence for enhanced O/Fe ratios in z ≳ 2.5 star-forming galaxies of the order (O/Fe)≳1.8×(O/Fe)⊙. Finally, by comparing our results to the predictions of three cosmological simulations, we find that the z = 3.5 stellar mass.metallicity relation is consistent with current predictions for how outflow strength scales with galaxy stellar mass. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of one-zone analytic chemical evolution models, and suggests that the mass-loading parameter (ν = M_outflow/M_∗) scales as ν α M^β_∗ with β ≃-0.4.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2038-2060
Number of pages	23
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	487
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1402
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2019
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: high redshift

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1093/mnras/stz1402

Cite this

Cullen, F., McLure, R. J., Dunlop, J. S., Khochfar, S., Davé, R., Amorín, R., Bolzonella, M., Carnall, A. C., Castellano, M., Cimatti, A., Cirasuolo, M., Cresci, G., Fynbo, J. P. U., Fontanot, F., Gargiulo, A., Garilli, B., Guaita, L., Hathi, N., Hibon, P., ... Zamorani, G. (2019). The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 487(2), 2038-2060. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1402

@article{5c151f15216b4d74bbd793ce650bf64c,

title = "The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0",

abstract = "We present the results of a study utilizing ultradeep, rest-frame UV, spectroscopy to quantify the relationship between stellar mass and stellar metallicity for 681 star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0 (z = 3.5 ± 0.6) drawn from the VANDELS survey. Via a comparison with high-resolution stellar population synthesis models, we determine stellar metallicities (Z., here a proxy for the iron abundance) for a set of high signal-to-noise ratio composite spectra formed from subsamples selected by mass and redshift. Across the stellar mass range 8.5 < log(M∗/M⊙) < 10.2, we find a strong correlation between stellar metallicity (Z∗/Z⊙) and stellar mass, with stellar metallicity monotonically increasing from Z∗/Z⊙ < 0.09 at M∗ = 3.2 × 108M⊙ to Z∗/Z⊙ = 0.27 at M⊙ = 1.7 × 1010M⊙. In contrast, at a given stellar mass, we find no evidence for significant metallicity evolution across the redshift range of our sample. However, comparing our results to the z = 0 stellar mass.metallicity relation for star-forming galaxies,we find that the z=3.5 relation is consistent with being shifted to lower metallicities by -0.6 dex at all stellar masses. Contrasting our derived stellar metallicities with estimates of the gas-phase metallicities of galaxies at similar redshifts and stellar masses, we find evidence for enhanced O/Fe ratios in z ≳ 2.5 star-forming galaxies of the order (O/Fe)≳1.8×(O/Fe)⊙. Finally, by comparing our results to the predictions of three cosmological simulations, we find that the z = 3.5 stellar mass.metallicity relation is consistent with current predictions for how outflow strength scales with galaxy stellar mass. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of one-zone analytic chemical evolution models, and suggests that the mass-loading parameter (ν = Moutflow/M∗) scales as ν α Mβ∗ with β ≃-0.4.",

keywords = "Galaxies: evolution, Galaxies: high redshift",

author = "F. Cullen and McLure, {R. J.} and Dunlop, {J. S.} and S. Khochfar and R. Dav{\'e} and R. Amor{\'i}n and M. Bolzonella and Carnall, {A. C.} and M. Castellano and A. Cimatti and M. Cirasuolo and G. Cresci and Fynbo, {J. P.U.} and F. Fontanot and A. Gargiulo and B. Garilli and L. Guaita and N. Hathi and P. Hibon and F. Mannucci and F. Marchi and McLeod, {D. J.} and L. Pentericci and L. Pozzetti and Shapley, {A. E.} and M. Talia and G. Zamorani",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/stz1402",

language = "English",

volume = "487",

pages = "2038--2060",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "2",

}

Cullen, F, McLure, RJ, Dunlop, JS, Khochfar, S, Davé, R, Amorín, R, Bolzonella, M, Carnall, AC, Castellano, M, Cimatti, A, Cirasuolo, M, Cresci, G, Fynbo, JPU, Fontanot, F, Gargiulo, A, Garilli, B, Guaita, L, Hathi, N, Hibon, P, Mannucci, F, Marchi, F, McLeod, DJ, Pentericci, L, Pozzetti, L, Shapley, AE, Talia, M & Zamorani, G 2019, 'The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 487, no. 2, pp. 2038-2060. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1402

TY - JOUR

T1 - The VANDELS survey

T2 - The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0

AU - Cullen, F.

AU - McLure, R. J.

AU - Dunlop, J. S.

AU - Khochfar, S.

AU - Davé, R.

AU - Amorín, R.

AU - Bolzonella, M.

AU - Carnall, A. C.

AU - Castellano, M.

AU - Cimatti, A.

AU - Cirasuolo, M.

AU - Cresci, G.

AU - Fynbo, J. P.U.

AU - Fontanot, F.

AU - Gargiulo, A.

AU - Garilli, B.

AU - Guaita, L.

AU - Hathi, N.

AU - Hibon, P.

AU - Mannucci, F.

AU - Marchi, F.

AU - McLeod, D. J.

AU - Pentericci, L.

AU - Pozzetti, L.

AU - Shapley, A. E.

AU - Talia, M.

AU - Zamorani, G.

PY - 2019/8/1

Y1 - 2019/8/1

N2 - We present the results of a study utilizing ultradeep, rest-frame UV, spectroscopy to quantify the relationship between stellar mass and stellar metallicity for 681 star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0 (z = 3.5 ± 0.6) drawn from the VANDELS survey. Via a comparison with high-resolution stellar population synthesis models, we determine stellar metallicities (Z., here a proxy for the iron abundance) for a set of high signal-to-noise ratio composite spectra formed from subsamples selected by mass and redshift. Across the stellar mass range 8.5 < log(M∗/M⊙) < 10.2, we find a strong correlation between stellar metallicity (Z∗/Z⊙) and stellar mass, with stellar metallicity monotonically increasing from Z∗/Z⊙ < 0.09 at M∗ = 3.2 × 108M⊙ to Z∗/Z⊙ = 0.27 at M⊙ = 1.7 × 1010M⊙. In contrast, at a given stellar mass, we find no evidence for significant metallicity evolution across the redshift range of our sample. However, comparing our results to the z = 0 stellar mass.metallicity relation for star-forming galaxies,we find that the z=3.5 relation is consistent with being shifted to lower metallicities by -0.6 dex at all stellar masses. Contrasting our derived stellar metallicities with estimates of the gas-phase metallicities of galaxies at similar redshifts and stellar masses, we find evidence for enhanced O/Fe ratios in z ≳ 2.5 star-forming galaxies of the order (O/Fe)≳1.8×(O/Fe)⊙. Finally, by comparing our results to the predictions of three cosmological simulations, we find that the z = 3.5 stellar mass.metallicity relation is consistent with current predictions for how outflow strength scales with galaxy stellar mass. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of one-zone analytic chemical evolution models, and suggests that the mass-loading parameter (ν = Moutflow/M∗) scales as ν α Mβ∗ with β ≃-0.4.

AB - We present the results of a study utilizing ultradeep, rest-frame UV, spectroscopy to quantify the relationship between stellar mass and stellar metallicity for 681 star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0 (z = 3.5 ± 0.6) drawn from the VANDELS survey. Via a comparison with high-resolution stellar population synthesis models, we determine stellar metallicities (Z., here a proxy for the iron abundance) for a set of high signal-to-noise ratio composite spectra formed from subsamples selected by mass and redshift. Across the stellar mass range 8.5 < log(M∗/M⊙) < 10.2, we find a strong correlation between stellar metallicity (Z∗/Z⊙) and stellar mass, with stellar metallicity monotonically increasing from Z∗/Z⊙ < 0.09 at M∗ = 3.2 × 108M⊙ to Z∗/Z⊙ = 0.27 at M⊙ = 1.7 × 1010M⊙. In contrast, at a given stellar mass, we find no evidence for significant metallicity evolution across the redshift range of our sample. However, comparing our results to the z = 0 stellar mass.metallicity relation for star-forming galaxies,we find that the z=3.5 relation is consistent with being shifted to lower metallicities by -0.6 dex at all stellar masses. Contrasting our derived stellar metallicities with estimates of the gas-phase metallicities of galaxies at similar redshifts and stellar masses, we find evidence for enhanced O/Fe ratios in z ≳ 2.5 star-forming galaxies of the order (O/Fe)≳1.8×(O/Fe)⊙. Finally, by comparing our results to the predictions of three cosmological simulations, we find that the z = 3.5 stellar mass.metallicity relation is consistent with current predictions for how outflow strength scales with galaxy stellar mass. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of one-zone analytic chemical evolution models, and suggests that the mass-loading parameter (ν = Moutflow/M∗) scales as ν α Mβ∗ with β ≃-0.4.

KW - Galaxies: evolution

KW - Galaxies: high redshift

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071192517&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/stz1402

DO - 10.1093/mnras/stz1402

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85071192517

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 487

SP - 2038

EP - 2060

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 2

ER -

The VANDELS survey: The stellar metallicities of star-forming galaxies at 2.5 < z < 5.0

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this