Compaction and quenching of high-z galaxies in cosmological simulations: blue and red nuggets

We use cosmological simulations to study a characteristic evolution pattern of high redshift galaxies. Early, stream-fed, highly perturbed, gas-rich discs undergo phases of dissipative contraction into compact, star-forming systems ("blue" nuggets) at z 4 -2. The peak of gas compaction marks the onset of central gas depletion and inside-out quenching into compact ellipticals (red nuggets) by z 2. These are sometimes surrounded by gas rings or grow extended dry stellar envelopes. The compaction occurs at a roughly constant specific starformation rate (SFR), and the quenching occurs at a constant stellar surface density within the inner kpc ( 1 ). Massive galaxies quench earlier, faster, and at a higher 1 than…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: AST-1405962, 1405962, 1010033
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• EL
  Eli Lilly and Company
• NE
  National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center
• IS
  Israel Science Foundation

  Awards: 24/12, 1829/12
• MD
  Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• AR
  Ames Research Center
• IC
  Israeli Centers for Research Excellence

  Award: 1829/12
• LB
  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory