arXiv subjects

G. Rudnick

Publications and source records attributed to G. Rudnick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Virgo Filaments VII: MeerKAT HI-imaging of the VirgoIII filament

We present MeerKAT HI observations of galaxies in the nearby Virgo III filament. At a median distance of $\sim30$ Mpc, the filament extends over $\approx16$ Mpc across $\sim56$ deg$^2$. Our survey comprises 15 targeted MeerKAT pointings centred on HI deficient galaxies. Multi-resolution HI imaging at 8-90 arcsec with an rms of $\sim0.3$ mJy beam$^{-1}$ reaches column densities of $\sim4\times10^{20}$ to $\sim4\times10^{18}$ atoms cm$^{-2}$. This probes HI in galaxy discs at $\sim1.2$ kpc resolution and their outskirts at $\sim13.5$ kpc. We detect HI emission from 80 sources within the 500-3000 km/s range; most are optically detected galaxies, while 10 per cent lack confirmed counterparts. We also identify three HI clouds without optical counterparts near an interacting system, possibly displaced during the interaction. Galaxies in the filament lie below the field HI gas-fraction scaling relations at fixed stellar mass. Crucially, $\sim40$ per cent of galaxies not selected for HI deficiency fall more than $1\sigma$ below these relations, with an even greater fraction lying under the mean relation itself, indicating that the low HI gas fractions are widespread in the filament rather than confined to the pre-selected deficient population. Quantifying HI morphologies using an asymmetry parameter, we find a wide range of disturbances without a clear trend with projected distance to the filament spine or local density, suggesting a combination of local interactions and the filament itself. This paper presents the survey description, catalogue, and HI atlas enabling investigations of gas removal mechanisms in Virgo III galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

Virgo Filaments VI: H$\alpha$ clumps in the filaments around the Virgo galaxy cluster

It is still not clear which environmental processes operate in filaments. Given the ubiquity of filaments and their importance in feeding clusters, a proper understanding of these mechanisms is crucial to a more complete picture of galaxy evolution. To investigate them, we need large galaxy samples with spatially resolved information. As part of this effort, we analyse resolved H$\alpha$ maps of 685 galaxies inside and outside the filaments around the Virgo cluster in addition to extensive measurements of integrated physical properties. We create a pipeline to decompose the H$\alpha$ images into individual clumps that trace star forming regions. We find that the number and average size of clumps in a galaxy are well-defined functions of distance and angular resolution. In particular, the power-law relation between the number of clumps and the distance of a galaxy is consistent with a fractal structure of star forming regions. We formulate an algorithm to compare filament and non-filament galaxies after removing observational differences. Although we do not have any conclusive evidence for a difference in clump size distributions between filament and non-filament galaxies, we do find that filament galaxies have slightly more peripheral clumps than their non-filament counterparts.

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arXiv2025

Even redder than we knew: color and $A_{\mathrm{V}}$ evolution up to $z=2.5$ from JWST/NIRCam photometry

JWST/NIRCam provides rest-frame near-IR photometry of galaxies up to $z=2.5$ with exquisite depth and accuracy. This affords an unprecedented view of the evolution of the UV-optical-near-IR color distribution and its interpretation in terms of the evolving dust attenuation, $A_{\mathrm{V}}$. We use the value-added data products (photometric redshift, stellar mass, rest-frame $U-V$ and $V-J$ colors, and $A_{\rm V}$) provided by the public DAWN JWST Archive. This data product derives from fitting the spectral energy distributions obtained from multiple NIRCam imaging surveys, augmented with pre-existing HST imaging data. Our sample consists of a stellar mass complete sample of $\approx 28,000$ $M_\star> 10^{9}~M_\odot$ galaxies in the redshift range $0.5 3\times 10^{10}~M_\odot$), which have a pronounced tail of very red galaxies reaching $V-J> 2.5$ at $z>1.5$ that does not exist at $z<1$. Such red $V-J$ can only be explained by dust attenuation, with typical values for $M_\star \approx 10^{11}~M_\odot$ galaxies in the range $A_{\mathrm{V}}\approx 1.5-3.5$ at $z\approx 2$. This redshift evolution went largely unnoticed before because the photometric redshift estimates for the reddest ($V-J>2.5$), most attenuated galaxies has markedly improved thanks to the new, precise photometry. Despite the increased attenuation, $U-V$ colors across the entire mass range are slightly bluer at higher $z$. In conclusion, whereas the rest-frame UV-optical color distribution evolves remarkably little from $z=0.5$ to $z=2.5$, the rest-frame optical-near-IR color distribution evolves strongly, primarily due to a very substantial increase with redshift in dust attenuation for massive galaxies. (Abbr.)

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arXiv2024

Virgo Filaments. III. The gas content of galaxies in filaments as predicted by the GAEA semi-analytic model

Galaxy evolution depends on the environment in which galaxies are located. The various physical processes (ram-pressure stripping, tidal interactions, etc.) that can affect the gas content in galaxies have different efficiencies in different environments. In this work, we examine the gas (atomic \ce{HI} and molecular \ce{H2}) content of local galaxies inside and outside clusters, groups, and filaments as well as in isolation using observational and simulated data. We exploited a catalog of galaxies in the Virgo cluster(including the surrounding filaments) and compared the data against the predictions of the Galaxy Evolution and Assembly(GAEA) semi-analytic model, which has explicit prescriptions for partitioning the cold gas content in its atomic and molecular phases. We extracted from the model a mock catalog that mimics the observational biases and one not tailored to observations to study the impact of observational limits on the results and predict trends in regimes not covered by the current observations. The observations and simulated data show that galaxies within filaments exhibit intermediate cold gas content between galaxies in clusters and isolation. The amount of \ce{HI} is typically more sensitive to the environment than \ce{H2} and low-mass galaxies ($\log_{10} [{\rm M}_{\star} / \rm{M}_{\sun} ] < 10$) are typically more affected than their massive ($\log_{10} [{\rm M}_{\star} / \rm{M}_{\sun} ] > 10$) counterparts. Considering only model data, we identified two distinct populations among filament galaxies present in similar proportions: those simultaneously lying in groups and isolated galaxies. The former has properties more similar to cluster and group galaxies, and the latter is more similar to those of field galaxies. We therefore did not detect filaments' strong effects on galaxies' gas content, and we ascribe the results to the presence of groups in filaments.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Resolved UV and optical color gradients reveal environmental influence on galaxy evolution at redshift z$\sim$1.6

The changes in colors across a galaxy are intimately connected to the galaxy's formation, growth, quenching history, and dust content. A particularly important epoch in the growth of galaxies is near $z \sim 2$ often referred to as `cosmic noon', where galaxies on average reach the peak of their star formation. We study a population of 125 cluster galaxies at $z \sim 1.6$ in three Hubble Space Telescope (HST) filters, F475W, F625W, and F160W, roughly corresponding to the rest-frame FUV, NUV, and r band, respectively. By comparing to a control sample of 200 field galaxies at similar redshift, we reveal clear, statistically significant differences in the overall spatially resolved colors and color gradients in galaxies across these two different environments. On average, cluster galaxies have redder UV colors in both the inner and outer regions bounded by $r_{\mathrm{50}}$, as well as an overall wider dispersion of outside-in color gradients. The presence of these observed differences, along with evidence from ancillary data from previous studies, strongly suggests that the environment drives these population-level color differences, by affecting the stellar populations and/or dust content.

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arXiv2022

A large-scale kinematic study of molecular gas in high-z cluster galaxies: Evidence for high levels of kinematic asymmetry

We investigate the resolved kinematics of the molecular gas, as traced by ALMA in CO (2-1), of 25 cluster member galaxies across three different clusters at a redshift of $z\sim1.6$. This is the first large-scale analysis of the molecular gas kinematics of cluster galaxies at this redshift. By separately estimating the rotation curve of the approaching and receding side of each galaxy via kinematic modeling, we quantify the difference in total circular velocity to characterize the overall kinematic asymmetry of each galaxy. 3/14 of the galaxies in our sample that we are able to model have similar degrees of asymmetry as that observed in galaxies in the field at similar redshift. However, this leaved 11/14 galaxies in our sample with significantly higher asymmetry, and some of these galaxies have degrees of asymmetry of up to $\sim$50 times higher than field galaxies observed at similar redshift. Some of these extreme cases also have one-sided tail-like morphology seen in the molecular gas, supporting a scenario of tidal and/or ram pressure interaction. Such stark differences in the kinematic asymmetry in clusters versus the field suggest the evolutionary influence of dense environments, established as being a major driver of galaxy evolution at low-redshift, is also active in the high-redshift universe.

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arXiv2022

Virgo Filaments II: Catalog and First Results on the Effect of Filaments on galaxy properties

Virgo is the nearest galaxy cluster; it is thus ideal for studies of galaxy evolution in dense environments in the local Universe. It is embedded in a complex filamentary network of galaxies and groups, which represents the skeleton of the large scale Laniakea supercluster. Here we assemble a comprehensive catalog of galaxies extending up to ~12 virial radii in projection from Virgo to revisit the Cosmic Web structure around it. This work is the foundation of a series of papers that will investigate the multi-wavelength properties of galaxies in the Cosmic Web around Virgo. We match spectroscopically confirmed sources from several databases and surveys including HyperLeda, NASA Sloan Atlas, NED, and ALFALFA. The sample consists of ~7000 galaxies. By exploiting a tomographic approach, we identify 13 filaments, spanning several Mpc in length. Long > 17 Mpc/h filaments, tend to be thin (< 1 Mpc/h in radius) and with a low density contrast (< 5), while shorter filaments show a larger scatter in their structural properties. Overall, we find that filaments are a transitioning environment between the field and cluster in terms of local densities, galaxy morphologies, and fraction of barred galaxies. Denser filaments have a higher fraction of early type galaxies, suggesting that the morphology-density relation is already in place in the filaments, before galaxies fall into the cluster itself. We release the full catalog of galaxies around Virgo and their associated properties.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Virgo Filaments I: Processing of gas in cosmological filaments around the Virgo cluster

Galaxies have different morphology, gas content and star formation rate (SFR) in dense environments like galaxy clusters. The impact of environmental density extends to several virial radii, and galaxies are pre-processed in filaments and groups, before falling into the cluster. Our goal is to quantify this pre-processing, in terms of gas content and SFR, as a function of density in cosmic filaments. We have observed the two first CO transitions in 163 galaxies with the IRAM-30m telescope, and added 82 more measurements from the literature, for a sample of 245 galaxies in the filaments around Virgo. We gathered HI-21cm measurements from the literature, and observed 69 galaxies with the Nançay telescope, to complete our sample. We compare our filament galaxies with comparable samples from the Virgo cluster and with the isolated galaxies of the AMIGA sample. We find a progression from field galaxies to filament and cluster ones for decreasing SFR, increasing fraction of galaxies in the quenching phase, increasing proportion of early-type galaxies and decreasing gas content. Galaxies in the quenching phase, defined as having SFR below 1/3 of the main sequence rate, are only between 0-20\% in the isolated sample, while they are 20-60\% in the filaments and 30-80\% in the Virgo cluster. Processes that lead to star formation quenching are already at play in filaments. They depend mostly on the local galaxy density, while the distance to the filament spine is a secondary parameter. While the HI to stellar mass ratio decreases with local density by ~1 dex in the filaments, and ~2 dex in Virgo with respect to the field, the decrease is much less for the H$_2$ to stellar mass ratio. As the environmental density increases, the gas depletion time decreases, since the gas content decreases faster than the SFR. This suggests that gas depletion significantly precedes star formation quenching.

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arXiv2021

Satellite quenching was not important for z$\sim$1 clusters: most quenching occurred during infall

We quantify the relative importance of environmental quenching versus pre-processing in $z\sim1$ clusters by analysing the infalling galaxy population in the outskirts of 15 galaxy clusters at $0.8 10^{11}M_{\odot}$ were quenched prior to infall, whilst up to half of lower mass galaxies were environmentally quenched after passing the virial radius. This means most of the massive quiescent galaxies in $z\sim1$ clusters were self-quenched or pre-processed prior to infall.

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arXiv2021

SEEDisCS II. Molecular gas in galaxy clusters and their large scale structure: low gas fraction galaxies, the case of CL1301.7$-$1139

This paper is the second of a series that tackles the properties of molecular gas in galaxies residing in clusters and their related large-scale structures. Out of 21 targeted fields, 19 galaxies were detected in CO(3-2) with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), including two detections within a single field. These galaxies are either bona fide members of the CL1301.7$-$1139 cluster ($z=0.4828$, $σ_{cl}=681$ km s$^{-1}$), or located within $\sim 7 \times R_{200}$, its virial radius. They have been selected to sample the range of photometric local densities around CL1301.7$-$1139, with stellar masses above log($M_{\rm star}$) = 10, and to be located in the blue clump of star-forming galaxies derived from the $u$, $g$, and $i$ photometric bands. Unlike previous works, our sample selection does not impose a minimum star formation rate or detection in the far-infrared. As such and as much as possible, it delivers an unbiased view of the gas content of normal star-forming galaxies at $z \sim 0.5$. Our study highlights the variety of paths to star formation quenching, and most likely the variety of physical properties (i.e. temperature, density) of the corresponding galaxy's cold molecular gas. Just as in the case of CL1411.1$-$1148, although to a smaller extent, we identify a number of galaxies with lower gas fraction than classically found in other surveys. These galaxies can still be on the star-forming main sequence. When these galaxies are not inside the cluster virialised region, we provide hints that they are linked to their infall regions within $\sim 4 \times R_{200}$.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

The GOGREEN survey: the internal dynamics of clusters of galaxies at redshift 0.9-1.4

We aim to determine the mass, velocity anisotropy, and pseudo phase-space density profiles (M(r), beta(r), and Q(r), respectively) of clusters of galaxies at the highest redshifts investigated in detail so far. We combine the GOGREEN and GCLASS spectroscopic data-sets for 14 clusters with mass M200 > 10^14 Msolar at redshifts 0.9 < z < 1.4. We stack these 14 clusters into an ensemble cluster of 581 member galaxies with stellar mass > 10^9.5 M_solar. We use the MAMPOSSt method and the inversion of the Jeans equation technique to determine M(r) and beta(r). We then combine the results of the M(r) and beta(r) analysis to determine Q(r) for the ensemble cluster. The concentration c200 of the ensemble cluster M(r) is in excellent agreement with predictions from LambdaCDM cosmological numerical simulations, and with previous determinations for clusters of similar mass and at similar redshifts, obtained from gravitational lensing and X-ray data. We see no significant difference between the total mass density and either the galaxy number density distributions or the stellar mass distribution. Star-forming galaxies are spatially significantly less concentrated than quiescent galaxies. The orbits of cluster galaxies are isotropic near the center and more radial outside. Star-forming galaxies and galaxies of low stellar mass tend to move on more radially elongated orbits than quiescent galaxies and galaxies of high stellar mass. Q(r), determined either using the total mass or the number density profile, is very close to the power-law behavior predicted by numerical simulations. The internal dynamics of clusters at the highest redshift probed in detail so far are very similar to those of lower-redshift clusters, and in excellent agreement with predictions of numerical simulations. The clusters in our sample have already reached a high degree of dynamical relaxation. (Abridged)

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

SEEDisCS I. Molecular gas in galaxy clusters and their large scale structure: the case of CL1411.1$-$1148 at $z\sim0.5$

We investigate how the galaxy reservoirs of molecular gas fuelling star formation are transformed while the host galaxies infall onto galaxy cluster cores. As part of the Spatially Extended ESO Distant Cluster Survey (SEEDisCS), we present CO(3-2) observations of 27 star-forming galaxies obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). These sources are located inside and around CL1411.1$-$1148 at $z=0.5195$, within five times the cluster virial radius. These targets were selected to have stellar masses M$_{\rm star}$), colours, and magnitudes similar to those of a field comparison sample at similar redshift drawn from the Plateau de Bure high-$z$ Blue Sequence Survey (PHIBSS2). We compare the cold gas fraction ($μ_{\rm H_2}=$ M$_{\rm H_2}$/M$_{\rm star}$), specific star formation rates (SFR/M$_{\rm star}$) and depletion timescales ($t_{\rm depl}=$ M$_{\rm H_2}$/SFR) of our main-sequence galaxies to the PHIBSS2 subsample. While the most of our galaxies (63\%) are consistent with PHIBSS2, the remainder fall below the relation between $μ_\mathrm{H_2}$ and M$_{\rm star}$ of the PHIBSS2 galaxies at $z\sim0.5$. These low-$μ_\mathrm{H_2}$ galaxies are not compatible with the tail of a Gaussian distribution, hence they correspond to a new population of galaxies with normal SFRs but low gas content and low depletion times ($\lesssim 1$ Gyr), absent from previous surveys. We suggest that the star formation activity of these galaxies has not yet been diminished by their low fraction of cold molecular gas.

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arXiv2019

Strategic Scientific Plan for Gemini Observatory

We present the Strategic Scientific Plan (SSP) for the direction and activities of the Gemini Observatory in the 2020s. The overarching goal is to ensure that Gemini best uses the available resources to serve the needs of its international user community throughout the coming decade. The actionable items fall into three general categories: (1) preserving Gemini's current facilities and strengths; (2) developing instrumentation and software systems, including data pipelines, to enable new scientific capabilities that build on those strengths; (3) strategizing how visiting instruments can deliver additional valuable capabilities. We provide a high-level timeline (schematically illustrated in one figure) for the main developments discussed in this SSP. The schedule is ambitious, but in light of the recent Gemini in the Era of Multi-Messenger Astronomy (GEMMA) award from the NSF, the plan becomes achievable. Lists of milestones are given for gauging progress. As these milestones are reached and new instruments become available, some current instruments will need to be retired; we make recommendations in this regard. The final section concludes by reemphasizing the importance of a strong partnership committed to the needs of all members.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2018

Violent quenching: molecular gas blown to 1000 km/s during a major merger

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of a massive (M_stars~10^11 M_Sun) compact (r_e,UV~100 pc) merger remnant at z=0.66 that is driving a 1000 km/s outflow of cool gas, with no observational trace of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We resolve molecular gas on scales of approximately 1-2 kpc, and our main finding is the discovery of a wing of blueshifted CO(2-1) emission out to -1000 km/s relative to the stars. We argue that this is the molecular component of a multiphase outflow, expelled from the central starburst within the past 5 Myr through stellar feedback, although we cannot rule out previous AGN activity as a launching mechanism. If the latter is true, then this is an example of a relic multiphase AGN outflow. We estimate a molecular mass outflow rate of approximately 300 M_Sun/yr, or about one third of the 10 Myr-averaged star formation rate. This system epitomizes the multiphase 'blowout' episode following a dissipational major merger - a process that has violently quenched central star formation and supermassive black hole growth.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

Resolving CO (2-1) in z~1.6 Gas-Rich Cluster Galaxies with ALMA: Rotating Molecular Gas Disks with Possible Signatures of Gas Stripping

We present the first spatially-resolved observations of molecular gas in a sample of cluster galaxies beyond z>0.1. Using ALMA, we detect CO (2-1) in 8 z~1.6 cluster galaxies, all within a single 70" primary beam, in under 3 hours of integration time. The cluster, SpARCS-J0225, is replete with gas-rich galaxies in close proximity. It thus affords an efficient multiplexing strategy to build up the first sample of resolved CO in distant galaxy clusters. Mapping out the kinematic structure and morphology of the molecular gas on 3.5 kpc scales reveals rotating gas disks in the majority of the galaxies, as evidenced by smooth velocity gradients. Detailed velocity maps also uncover kinematic peculiarities, including a central gas void, a merger, and a few one-sided gas tails. We compare the extent of the molecular gas component to that of the optical stellar component, measured with rest-frame optical HST imaging. We find that the cluster galaxies, while broadly consistent with a ratio of unity for stellar-to-gas effective radii, have a moderately larger ratio compared to the coeval field; this is consistent with the more pronounced trend in the low-redshift Universe. Thus, at first glance, the z~1.6 cluster galaxies generally look like galaxies infalling from the field, with typical main-sequence star formation rates and massive molecular gas reservoirs situated in rotating disks. However, there are potentially important differences from their field counterparts, including elevated gas fractions, slightly smaller CO disks, and possible asymmetric gas tails. Taken in tandem, these signatures are tentative evidence for gas-stripping in the z~1.6 cluster. However, the current sample size of spatially-resolved molecular gas in galaxies at high redshift is small, and verification of these trends will require much larger samples of both cluster and field galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

The Evolution of Environmental Quenching Timescales to $z\sim1.6$

Using a sample of 4 galaxy clusters at $1.35 < z < 1.65$ and 10 galaxy clusters at $0.85 < z < 1.35$, we measure the environmental quenching timescale, $t_Q$, corresponding to the time required after a galaxy is accreted by a cluster for it to fully cease star formation. Cluster members are selected by a photometric-redshift criterion, and categorized as star-forming, quiescent, or intermediate according to their dust-corrected rest-frame colors and magnitudes. We employ a "delayed-then-rapid" quenching model that relates a simulated cluster mass accretion rate to the observed numbers of each type of galaxy in the cluster to constrain $t_Q$. For galaxies of mass $M_* \gtrsim 10^{10.5}~ \mathrm{M}_\odot$, we find a quenching timescale of $t_Q=$ 1.24 Gyr in the $z\sim1.5$ cluster sample, and $t_Q=$ 1.50 Gyr at $z\sim1$. Using values drawn from the literature, we compare the redshift evolution of $t_Q$ to timescales predicted for different physical quenching mechanisms. We find $t_Q$ to depend on host halo mass such that quenching occurs over faster timescales in clusters relative to groups, suggesting that properties of the host halo are responsible for quenching high-mass galaxies. Between $z=0$ and $z=1.5$, we find that $t_Q$ evolves faster than the molecular gas depletion timescale and slower than an SFR-outflow timescale, but is consistent with the evolution of the dynamical time. This suggests that environmental quenching in these galaxies is driven by the motion of satellites relative to the cluster environment, although due to uncertainties in the atomic gas budget at high redshift, we cannot rule out quenching due to simple gas depletion.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

ALMA Observations of Gas-Rich Galaxies in z~1.6 Galaxy Clusters: Evidence for Higher Gas Fractions in High-Density Environments

We present ALMA CO (2-1) detections in 11 gas-rich cluster galaxies at z~1.6, constituting the largest sample of molecular gas measurements in z>1.5 clusters to date. The observations span three galaxy clusters, derived from the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-sequence Cluster Survey. We augment the >5sigma detections of the CO (2-1) fluxes with multi-band photometry, yielding stellar masses and infrared-derived star formation rates, to place some of the first constraints on molecular gas properties in z~1.6 cluster environments. We measure sizable gas reservoirs of 0.5-2x10^11 solar masses in these objects, with high gas fractions and long depletion timescales, averaging 62% and 1.4 Gyr, respectively. We compare our cluster galaxies to the scaling relations of the coeval field, in the context of how gas fractions and depletion timescales vary with respect to the star-forming main sequence. We find that our cluster galaxies lie systematically off the field scaling relations at z=1.6 toward enhanced gas fractions, at a level of ~4sigma, but have consistent depletion timescales. Exploiting CO detections in lower-redshift clusters from the literature, we investigate the evolution of the gas fraction in cluster galaxies, finding it to mimic the strong rise with redshift in the field. We emphasize the utility of detecting abundant gas-rich galaxies in high-redshift clusters, deeming them as crucial laboratories for future statistical studies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

The fundamental plane of EDisCS galaxies - The effect of size evolution

We study the evolution of spectral early-type galaxies in clusters, groups and the field up to redshift 0.9 using the EDisCS dataset. We measure Re, Ie, and sigma for 154 cluster and 68 field galaxies. We study the evolution of the zero point of the fundamental plane (FP) and confirm results in the literature, but now also for the low cluster velocity dispersion regime. The mass-to-light ratio varies as Delta log M/L_B=(-0.54+-0.01)z=(-1.61+-0.01)log(1+z) in clusters, independent of their velocity dispersion. The evolution is stronger (Delta log M/L_B=(-0.76+-0.01)z=(-2.27+-0.03)log(1+z)) for field galaxies. The FP residuals correlate with galaxy mass and become progressively negative at low masses. The effect is visible at z>=0.7 for cluster galaxies and at z>=0.5 for field galaxies. We investigate the size evolution of our galaxy sample. We find that the half-luminosity radius for a galaxy with a dynamical or stellar mass of 2x10^11 Msol varies as (1+z)^{-1.0+-0.3} for both cluster and field galaxies. At the same time, stellar velocity dispersions grow with redshift, as (1+z)^{0.59+-0.10} at constant dynamical mass, and as (1+z)^{0.34+- 0.14} at constant stellar mass. The measured size evolution reduces to Re (1+z)^{-0.5+- 0.2} and sigma (1+z)^{0.41+-0.08}, at fixed dynamical masses, and Re (1+z)^{-0.68+-0.4} and sigma (1+z)^{0.19+-0.10}, at fixed stellar masses, when the progenitor bias (galaxies that locally are of spectroscopic early-type, but not very old, disappear from the EDisCS high-redshift sample; these galaxies tend to be large in size) is taken into account. Taken together, the variations in size and velocity dispersion imply that the luminosity evolution with redshift derived from the zero point of the FP is somewhat milder than that derived without taking these variations into account.

astro-ph.CO↗