A Study on Quenching and Galaxy Growth in z~1 Clusters using HST WFC3 Grism Observations
type: CreativeWork
description: The work in this thesis uses 38 orbits worth of $\textit{Hubble Space Telescope}$ (HST), $\textit{Wide Field Camera 3}$ (WFC3) infrared F140W imaging and G141 grism data on 10 galaxy clusters at $z\sim1$ to study how the quenching of star formation in galaxies and galaxy size growth operates in different environments at this redshift. The unique capabilities of space-based slitless spectroscopy with the G141 grism allows for the construction of spatially resolved H$\alpha$ maps, providing the possibility to directly observe environmental quenching at $z\sim1$ for the first time. This allows us to understand the detailed physics behind environmental quenching mechanisms and how they operate on galaxies at this high redshift. The quenching of star formation leads to the build-up of quenched (or ``quiescent”) galaxies in the Universe. Observations have also shown that quiescent galaxies grow disproportionately more in size than stellar mass from high to low redshifts. Many studies have argued that minor mergers are responsible for this size growth. To test this hypothesis, it is possible to use the cluster environment as a laboratory. Cluster galaxies have high peculiar velocities, making mergers between them rare. Since minor mergers are expected to increase galaxy size more than they do stellar mass, the most direct way to test this is to measure the stellar mass--size relations in both the cluster and field environments at fixed redshift and compare them to see if there is a significant offset in size. If the predictions of minor mergers driving galaxy size growth are true, cluster galaxies should find themselves inhibited from size growth and will therefore be significantly smaller than field galaxies at fixed stellar mass. In Chapter 2 of this thesis, we do this experiment at $z\sim1$, finding that quiescent cluster galaxies are smaller than quiescent field galaxies at fixed stellar mass. This supports the case for minor mergers driving size growth in quiescent fi…
abstract: The work in this thesis uses 38 orbits worth of $\textit{Hubble Space Telescope}$ (HST), $\textit{Wide Field Camera 3}$ (WFC3) infrared F140W imaging and G141 grism data on 10 galaxy clusters at $z\sim1$ to study how the quenching of star formation in galaxies and galaxy size growth operates in different environments at this redshift. The unique capabilities of space-based slitless spectroscopy with the G141 grism allows for the construction of spatially resolved H$\alpha$ maps, providing the possibility to directly observe environmental quenching at $z\sim1$ for the first time. This allows us to understand the detailed physics behind environmental quenching mechanisms and how they operate on galaxies at this high redshift. The quenching of star formation leads to the build-up of quenched (or ``quiescent”) galaxies in the Universe. Observations have also shown that quiescent galaxies grow disproportionately more in size than stellar mass from high to low redshifts. Many studies have argued that minor mergers are responsible for this size growth. To test this hypothesis, it is possible to use the cluster environment as a laboratory. Cluster galaxies have high peculiar velocities, making mergers between them rare. Since minor mergers are expected to increase galaxy size more than they do stellar mass, the most direct way to test this is to measure the stellar mass--size relations in both the cluster and field environments at fixed redshift and compare them to see if there is a significant offset in size. If the predictions of minor mergers driving galaxy size growth are true, cluster galaxies should find themselves inhibited from size growth and will therefore be significantly smaller than field galaxies at fixed stellar mass. In Chapter 2 of this thesis, we do this experiment at $z\sim1$, finding that quiescent cluster galaxies are smaller than quiescent field galaxies at fixed stellar mass. This supports the case for minor mergers driving size growth in quiescent fi…
author: Matharu, Jasleen Kaur
language: en
keywords: galaxy evolution, galaxy clusters, star formation, quenching, environment, high-redshift, mass--size relation, H-alpha, Hubble Space Telescope, Wide Field Camera 3, Infra-red, grism, slitless spectroscopy, observations, galaxy growth, quiescent galaxies, passive galaxies, minor-mergers, ram-pressure stripping, overconsumption, progenitor bias
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/77bc80fe-e959-472e-815c-040eb7e1baec/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2019-11-30
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:13Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.44899