Kinematic downsizing at z ∼ 2

Abstract

We present results from a survey of the internal kinematics of 49 star-forming galaxies at z∼2 in the CANDELS fields with the Keck/MOSFIRE spectrograph, Survey in the near-Infrared of Galaxies with Multiple position Angles (SIGMA). Kinematics (rotation velocity V {sub rot} and gas velocity dispersion σ{sub g}) are measured from nebular emission lines which trace the hot ionized gas surrounding star-forming regions. We find that by z∼2, massive star-forming galaxies (log M{sub ∗}/M{sub ⊙}≳10.2) have assembled primitive disks: their kinematics are dominated by rotation, they are consistent with a marginally stable disk model, and they form a Tully–Fisher relation. These massive galaxies have values of V{sub rot}/σ{sub g} that are factors of 2–5 lower than local well-ordered galaxies at similar masses. Such results are consistent with findings by other studies. We find that low-mass galaxies (log M{sub ∗}/M{sub ⊙}≲10.2) at this epoch are still in the early stages of disk assembly: their kinematics are often dominated by gas velocity dispersion and they fall from the Tully–Fisher relation to significantly low values of V {sub rot}. This “kinematic downsizing” implies that the process(es) responsible for disrupting disks at z∼2 have a stronger effect and/or are more active in low-mass systems. In conclusion, we find that the period of rapid stellar mass growth at z∼2 is coincident with the nascent assembly of low-mass disks and the assembly and settling of high-mass disks.