Strangulation as the primary mechanism for shutting down star formation in galaxies

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that strangulation, which halts cold gas supply, is the main process shutting down star formation in local galaxies with less than 10^11 solar masses, over a timescale of about 4 billion years.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence that strangulation is the dominant quenching mechanism in local galaxies below 10^11 solar masses, based on stellar metallicity analysis.

Findings

Strangulation is the primary quenching mechanism in local galaxies.

Quiescent galaxies are observed approximately 4 billion years after quenching.

Stellar metallicity differences effectively distinguish quenching mechanisms.

Abstract

Local galaxies are broadly divided into two main classes, star-forming (gas-rich) and quiescent (passive and gas-poor). The primary mechanism responsible for quenching star formation in galaxies and transforming them into quiescent and passive systems is still unclear. Sudden removal of gas through outflows or stripping is one of the mechanisms often proposed. An alternative mechanism is so-called "strangulation", in which the supply of cold gas to the galaxy is halted. Here we report that the difference between quiescent and star forming galaxies in terms of stellar metallicity (i.e. the fraction of metals heavier than helium in stellar atmospheres) can be used to discriminate efficiently between the two mechanisms. The analysis of the stellar metallicity in local galaxies, from 26,000 spectra, clearly reveals that strangulation is the primary mechanism responsible for quenching star formation, with a typical timescale of 4 billion years, at least for local galaxies with a stellar mass less than 10^11 solar masses. This result is further supported independently by the stellar age difference between quiescent and star-forming galaxies, which indicates that quiescent galaxies of less than 10^11 solar masses are on average observed four billion years after quenching due to strangulation.