Collaborative Research: The Last Gasp - Shutting Down Massive Galaxies at z~0.6

这个项目将研究处于关闭最后一次恒星形成爆发和从螺旋星系（如银河系）蜕变为圆形和死椭圆星系的遥远星系。虽然这个过程很常见，因为大多数大星系是椭圆形的，而年轻的星系是螺旋形的，但人们对它知之甚少。这个项目将使用恒星和气体中新转变的星系的详细特性来测试形成模型。更广泛的影响将支持代表性不足的少数族裔学生通过普林斯顿大学（Princeton University）和匹兹堡大学（University of Pittsburgh）的桥梁项目过渡到研究生院。这项工作利用一个独特的中红移大质量星爆后星系样本评估了可能的猝灭机制。这些星系最近刚刚结束了它们主要的恒星形成阶段，但它们离我们足够近，多波长观测可以阐明它们详细的、空间分辨的恒星特性和分子气藏。通过结合大质量星系统计样本的解析运动学、恒星年龄分布、剩余气体含量和视觉形态，并与SIMBA宇宙学模拟中淬火的时间尺度和随机性进行比较，该项目将确定驱动蓝色恒星形成、旋转的盘状星系转变为红色和死亡的、运动热的球体的主要淬火机制。此外，该团队将扩展一个经过验证的项目，以扩大和加强对普林斯顿大学和匹兹堡大学学士学位后学生的支持。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will study distant galaxies in the midst of shutting down their last burst of star formation and metamorphosing from spiral galaxies - like the Milky Way - into round and dead elliptical galaxies. Although this process is common, as most large galaxies are ellipticals while young galaxies are spirals, it is poorly understood. This project will use the detailed properties of newly transformed galaxies in stars and gas to test formation models. The broader impacts will support underrepresented minority students transition to graduate school through bridge programs at Princeton University and the University of Pittsburgh.This work assesses possible quenching mechanisms using a unique sample of intermediate-redshift massive post-starburst galaxies. These galaxies have recently quenched their major star-forming episode - yet they are sufficiently nearby that multi-wavelength observations can illuminate their detailed, spatially resolved stellar properties and molecular gas reservoirs. By combining the resolved kinematics, distribution of stellar ages, remaining gas content, and visual morphologies of this statistical sample of recently quenched massive galaxies and comparing with the timescales and stochasticity of quenching within the SIMBA cosmological simulations, this project will determine the dominant quenching mechanism(s) driving the transformation of blue star forming, rotating, disk galaxies into red-and-dead, kinematically hot, spheroids. In addition, the team will extend a proven program to broaden and strengthen support of post-baccalaureate students at Princeton and the University of Pittsburgh.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.