Abstract
We present population synthesis models designed to represent the star formation histories of L* red sequence galaxies (RSGs). Earlier work has shown that single-burst stellar populations (SSPs) are unable to match Balmer line strengths simultaneously at high and low redshift. We therefore consider alternative star formation histories in which RSGs contain intermediate-aged stars even at late epochs. The models are compared to Balmer HδF absorption strengths, U - B color data, and the number density of red sequence galaxies from z = 1 to z = 0. We find that quenched models, models of constant star formation histories truncated at regularly spaced intervals, average to an RSG population that matches the data well, showing slow evolution in color and Balmer line strength and a rise in number density by a factor of a few after z = 1. The data are best fit by a turn-on of quenching at redshifts z = 1.5-2.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | L103-L106 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 647 |
Issue number | 2 II |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 20 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: formation
- Galaxies: high-redshift
- Galaxies: stellar content
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science