The clustering properties of high-redshift passive galaxies

TL;DR

This study examines the clustering of high-redshift passive galaxies, finding significant clustering in one field and estimating their host halo masses, which suggests little evolution in dark matter content over cosmic time.

Contribution

It provides the first clustering analysis of high-redshift passive galaxies, estimating their correlation length and host halo mass, and discusses implications for dark matter evolution.

Findings

Clustering detected in GOODS-South but not in GOODS-North.

Estimated correlation length r_0=12^{+4}_{-5} Mpc in GOODS-South.

Minimum halo mass log10(M_min/M_sun)=13.0±0.3, indicating massive host halos.

Abstract

We investigate the clustering properties of 3<z<5 candidate passive galaxies from the Merlin et al. (2019) sample residing in the GOODS-North (35 sources) and GOODS-South (33 sources) fields. Within the large uncertainties due to the paucity of sources we do not detect clustering signal in GOODS-North, while this is present in GOODS-South, highlighting the importance of the effects of cosmic variance. The estimated correlation length in GOODS-South is r_0=12^+4_-5 Mpc, while the estimated minimum mass for a halo capable to host one of such high-redshift quenched galaxies is log10(M_min/M_sun) =13.0\pm 0.3, once also the constraints from their space density are taken into account. Both values are compatible with the results from GOODS-North. Putting the above findings in a cosmological context, these suggest no evolution of the dark matter content of the hosts of passive galaxies during the past 12.5 Gyr, i.e. during more than 90% of the age of the Universe. We discuss possible scenarios for the observed trend.