The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST

We investigate the correlation between stellar mass ( M _⋆ ) and star formation rate (SFR) across the stellar mass range ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\approx 6-11$ . We consider almost 50,000 star-forming galaxies at z  ≈ 3–7, leveraging data from COSMOS/SMUVS, JADES/GOODS-S, and M...

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Main Authors: P. Rinaldi, R. Navarro-Carrera, K. I. Caputi, E. Iani, G. Östlin, L. Colina, S. Alberts, J. Álvarez-Márquez, M. Annunziatella, L. Boogaard, L. Costantin, J. Hjorth, D. Langeroodi, J. Melinder, T. Moutard, F. Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb309
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author P. Rinaldi
R. Navarro-Carrera
K. I. Caputi
E. Iani
G. Östlin
L. Colina
S. Alberts
J. Álvarez-Márquez
M. Annunziatella
L. Boogaard
L. Costantin
J. Hjorth
D. Langeroodi
J. Melinder
T. Moutard
F. Walter
author_facet P. Rinaldi
R. Navarro-Carrera
K. I. Caputi
E. Iani
G. Östlin
L. Colina
S. Alberts
J. Álvarez-Márquez
M. Annunziatella
L. Boogaard
L. Costantin
J. Hjorth
D. Langeroodi
J. Melinder
T. Moutard
F. Walter
author_sort P. Rinaldi
collection DOAJ
description We investigate the correlation between stellar mass ( M _⋆ ) and star formation rate (SFR) across the stellar mass range ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\approx 6-11$ . We consider almost 50,000 star-forming galaxies at z  ≈ 3–7, leveraging data from COSMOS/SMUVS, JADES/GOODS-S, and MIDIS/XDF. This is the first study spanning such a wide M _⋆ range without relying on gravitational lensing effects. We locate our galaxies on the SFR– M _⋆ plane to assess how the location of galaxies in the star formation main sequence (MS) and starburst (SB) region evolves with M _⋆ and redshift. We find that the two star-forming modes tend to converge at ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 7$ , with all galaxies found in the SB mode. However, deeper observations will be instrumental for reaching lower SFRs and M _⋆ to further validate this scenario. By dissecting our galaxy sample in M _⋆ and redshift, we show that the emergence of the star formation MS is M _⋆ dependent: while in galaxies with ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\gt 9$ the MS is already well in place at z  = 5–7, for galaxies with ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\approx 7-8$ it only becomes significant at z  < 4. Overall, our results are in line with previous findings that the SB mode dominates among low stellar-mass galaxies. The earlier emergence of the MS for massive galaxies is consistent with galaxy downsizing.
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spelling doaj-art-859c3f88f40b4695b2bb15c6b2d52d1e2025-08-20T03:02:14ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01981216110.3847/1538-4357/adb309The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWSTP. Rinaldi0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5104-8245R. Navarro-Carrera1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6066-4624K. I. Caputi2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8183-1460E. Iani3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8386-3546G. Östlin4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3005-1349L. Colina5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9090-4227S. Alberts6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8909-8782J. Álvarez-Márquez7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7093-1877M. Annunziatella8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8053-8040L. Boogaard9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-8588L. Costantin10https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6820-0015J. Hjorth11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4571-2306D. Langeroodi12https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5710-8395J. Melinder13https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0470-8754T. Moutard14https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-9901F. Walter15https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4793-7880Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen , P.O. Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, The Netherlands ; prinaldi@arizona.edu; Steward Observatory, University of Arizona , 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAKapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen , P.O. Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, The Netherlands ; prinaldi@arizona.eduKapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen , P.O. Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, The Netherlands ; prinaldi@arizona.edu; Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) , Copenhagen, DenmarkKapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen , P.O. Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, The Netherlands ; prinaldi@arizona.eduDepartment of Astronomy, Stockholm University , Oscar Klein Centre, AlbaNova University Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, SwedenCosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) , Copenhagen, Denmark; Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) , CSIC-INTA, Ctra. de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, E-28850, Madrid, SpainSteward Observatory, University of Arizona , 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USACentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , CSIC-INTA, Ctra. de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, E-28850, Madrid, SpainCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , CSIC-INTA, Ctra. de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, E-28850, Madrid, SpainMax-Planck-Institut für Astronomie , Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, GermanyCentro de Astrobiología (CAB) , CSIC-INTA, Ctra. de Ajalvir km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, E-28850, Madrid, SpainDARK, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen , Jagtvej 128, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDARK, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen , Jagtvej 128, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Astronomy, Stockholm University , Oscar Klein Centre, AlbaNova University Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, SwedenAix Marseille Université , CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France; European Space Agency (ESA) , European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Camino Bajo del Castillo s/n, 28692 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, SpainMax-Planck-Institut für Astronomie , Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, GermanyWe investigate the correlation between stellar mass ( M _⋆ ) and star formation rate (SFR) across the stellar mass range ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\approx 6-11$ . We consider almost 50,000 star-forming galaxies at z  ≈ 3–7, leveraging data from COSMOS/SMUVS, JADES/GOODS-S, and MIDIS/XDF. This is the first study spanning such a wide M _⋆ range without relying on gravitational lensing effects. We locate our galaxies on the SFR– M _⋆ plane to assess how the location of galaxies in the star formation main sequence (MS) and starburst (SB) region evolves with M _⋆ and redshift. We find that the two star-forming modes tend to converge at ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\lt 7$ , with all galaxies found in the SB mode. However, deeper observations will be instrumental for reaching lower SFRs and M _⋆ to further validate this scenario. By dissecting our galaxy sample in M _⋆ and redshift, we show that the emergence of the star formation MS is M _⋆ dependent: while in galaxies with ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\gt 9$ the MS is already well in place at z  = 5–7, for galaxies with ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}({M}_{\star }/{M}_{\odot })\approx 7-8$ it only becomes significant at z  < 4. Overall, our results are in line with previous findings that the SB mode dominates among low stellar-mass galaxies. The earlier emergence of the MS for massive galaxies is consistent with galaxy downsizing.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb309Starburst galaxiesGalaxy evolutionGalaxy formationReionizationJames Webb Space Telescope
spellingShingle P. Rinaldi
R. Navarro-Carrera
K. I. Caputi
E. Iani
G. Östlin
L. Colina
S. Alberts
J. Álvarez-Márquez
M. Annunziatella
L. Boogaard
L. Costantin
J. Hjorth
D. Langeroodi
J. Melinder
T. Moutard
F. Walter
The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
The Astrophysical Journal
Starburst galaxies
Galaxy evolution
Galaxy formation
Reionization
James Webb Space Telescope
title The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
title_full The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
title_fullStr The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
title_full_unstemmed The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
title_short The Emergence of the Star Formation Main Sequence with Redshift Unfolded by JWST
title_sort emergence of the star formation main sequence with redshift unfolded by jwst
topic Starburst galaxies
Galaxy evolution
Galaxy formation
Reionization
James Webb Space Telescope
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb309
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