Galaxy-scale Star Formation on the Red Sequence: the Continued Growth of S0s and the Quiescence of Ellipticals

TL;DR

This study reveals that many S0 galaxies on the red sequence exhibit low-level, galaxy-scale star formation fueled by gas accretion, challenging the notion that all early-type galaxies are quiescent.

Contribution

It provides detailed high-resolution imaging evidence that S0 galaxies can sustain or resume star formation through gas accretion, distinguishing them from true ellipticals.

Findings

93% of studied ETGs show structured UV morphology indicating ongoing SF.

Galaxy-scale SF is mostly found in S0 galaxies, not ellipticals.

Star formation is fueled by gas accreted from the IGM or minor mergers.

Abstract

This paper examines star formation (SF) in relatively massive, primarily early-type galaxies (ETGs) at z~0.1. A sample is drawn from bulge-dominated GALEX/SDSS galaxies on the optical red sequence with strong UV excess and yet quiescent SDSS spectra. High-resolution far-UV imaging of 27 such ETGs using HST ACS/SBC reveals structured UV morphology in 93% of the sample, consistent with low-level ongoing SF (~0.5 Ms/yr). In 3/4 of the sample the SF is extended on galaxy scales (25-75 kpc), while the rest contains smaller (5-15 kpc) SF patches in the vicinity of an ETG - presumably gas-rich satellites being disrupted. Optical imaging reveals that all ETGs with galaxy-scale SF in our sample have old stellar disks (mostly S0 type). None is classified as a true elliptical. In our sample, galaxy-scale SF takes the form of UV rings of varying sizes and morphologies. For the majority of such objects we conclude that the gas needed to fuel current SF has been accreted from the IGM, probably in a prolonged, quasi-static manner, leading in some cases to additional disk buildup. The remaining ETGs with galaxy-scale SF have UV and optical morphologies consistent with minor merger-driven SF or with the final stages of SF in fading spirals. Our analysis excludes that all recent SF on the red sequence resulted from gas-rich mergers. We find further evidence that galaxy-scale SF is almost exclusively an S0 phenomenon (~20% S0s have SF) by examining the overall optically red SDSS ETGs. Conclusion is that significant number of field S0s maintain or resume low-level SF because the preventive feedback is not in place or is intermittent. True ellipticals, on the other hand, stay entirely quiescent even in the field.