The Nature and Evolution of Early Massive Quenched Galaxies in the Simba-C Simulation

Abstract

We examine the nature, origin, and fate of early ($z\geq 2$) massive ($M_\star>10^{10}M_\odot$) quenched galaxies (EQGs) in a new $(100h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}^3)$ run of the Simba-C galaxy formation model. We define ``quenched'' to be $>4\sigma$ below an iterative polynomial fit to the star-forming sequence (SFS), and find that Simba-C produces EQGs as early as $z\sim 5$ and number densities agreeing with observations at $z\leq 3$ (though slightly low at $z\geq 4$). Using a photometric-based EQG selection or a fixed sSFR cut of $10^{-10}$yr$^{-1}$ yields similar results. EQGs predominantly arise in central galaxies with stellar mass $M_\star\sim 10^{10.5-11.3}M_\odot$, not necessarily the most massive systems. A UMAP projection shows that quenched galaxies have notably large black hole-to-stellar mass ratios, lower rotational support, and less dust, but are not atypical versus similar-mass non-EQGs in their environments, halo mass, or halo gas temperatures at the time of quenching. However, via galaxy tracking we show that the progenitor environments of EQGs are significantly more overdense than that of non-EQGs, which drives higher black hole mass fractions and stellar-to-halo mass ratios. This results in the Eddington ratio dropping sufficiently low for Simba-C's jet mode feedback to turn on, which quickly quenches the host galaxies. EQGs thus seem to be galaxies that grow their black holes quickly within highly dense environments, but end up in moderately-dense environments where black hole feedback can quench effectively. We find that $\geq 30\%$ of EQGs rejuvenate, but the rejuvenating fraction drops quickly at $z\leq 2$. By $z=0$ it is difficult to distinguish the descendants of EQGs vs. non-EQGs.