Quenching star formation: insights from the local main sequence

TL;DR

This study analyzes the distribution of local galaxies on the star formation rate versus stellar mass plane, revealing an evolutionary sequence from active star formation to quiescence, influenced by active galactic nuclei.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of galaxies based on emission line ratios and maps their progression along the star-forming main sequence, highlighting AGN's role in quenching star formation.

Findings

Galaxies form a sequence from blue cloud to red-and-dead.

Emission line classifications correlate with galaxy evolutionary stages.

AGN activity is linked to the quenching of star formation.

Abstract

The so-called star-forming main sequence of galaxies is the apparent tight relationship between the star formation rate and stellar mass of a galaxy. Previous studies exclude galaxies which are not strictly 'star forming' from the main sequence, because they do not lie on the same tight relation. Using local galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey we have classified galaxies according to their emission line ratios, and studied their location on the star formation rate - stellar mass plane. We find that galaxies form a sequence from the `blue cloud' galaxies which are actively forming stars, through a combination of composite, Seyfert, and LINER (Low-ionization nuclear emission-line region) galaxies, ending as 'red-and-dead' galaxies. The sequence supports an evolutionary pathway for galaxies in which star formation quenching by active galactic nuclei (AGN) plays a key role.