Morphological and Star Formation Properties of Cosmic Noon Massive Quiescent Galaxies

arXiv:2605.02493 · astro-ph.GA · Submitted 2026-08-14 · Read on arXiv

Vaidik Prasal, Yogesh Wadadekar, Pralay Biswas, Rashi Jain

astro-ph.GA

Submitted: 2026-08-14

Updated: 2026-08-18

Comments: 28 pages, 13 figures, Submitted to ApJ, Comments Welcome

Project page: https://jwst-uncover.github.io/DR4.html

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

The gist: We analyze the star formation and morphological properties of massive quiescent galaxies at cosmic noon (2 < z < 3) in the Abell 2744 field, using deep JWST NIRCam broad-band and medium-band imaging

Terminology

Abstract

We analyze the star formation and morphological properties of massive quiescent galaxies at cosmic noon (2 < z < 3) in the Abell 2744 field, using deep JWST NIRCam broad-band and medium-band imaging from the UNCOVER Treasury program and the MegaScience survey, complemented by archival HST data. Using BAGPIPES SED modeling, we select 14 unique massive quiescent galaxies (M* 10 10 M, sSFR < 0.2/t age). Morphological analysis with statmorph and pysersic reveals that most galaxies are intermediate type or S0s with a median S'ersic index n about 4, consistent with bulge-dominated systems. This value remains constant over z about 1.5 -- 4, indicating that the morphology of massive galaxies is linked to their quiescence since at least z about 4. Spatially resolved SED modeling with piXedfit shows that about 79% of galaxies exhibit positive radial sSFR gradients, providing direct evidence for inside-out quenching, with the mean sSFR increasing by about2 dex from R/R e = 0.5 to 4.5. Formation time (t 50) profiles confirm that inner regions formed about 0.5 Gyr earlier, on average, than the outer regions, and quenching timescale profiles show that the cores were quenched more rapidly than the outskirts. Some galaxies show weak indications of possible AGN activity. Most galaxies are compact, with a mean half-mass radius of R e = 1.95 plus or minus 0.13 kpc. The observed inside-out quenching pattern and possible AGN signatures are consistent with AGN feedback playing a role in star formation cessation, while the bulge-dominated morphologies suggest morphological quenching may also contribute.

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