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December 4, 2019
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Stellar Velocity Dispersion of a Massive Quenching Galaxy at z = 4.01

Publicated to:Astrophysical Journal Letters. 885 (2): - 2019-11-10 885(2), DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab4ff3

Authors: Tanaka M; Valentino F; Toft S; Onodera M; Shimakawa R; Ceverino D; Faisst AL; Gallazzi A; Gómez-Guijarro C; Kubo M; Magdis GE; Steinhardt CL; Stockmann M; Yabe K; Zabl J

Affiliations

California Institute of Technology - Author
Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon - Author
CNRS Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Author
Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) - Author
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - Author
National Institutes of Natural Sciences - National Astronomical Observatory of Japan - Author
Niels Bohr Institute - Author
Osservatorio Astrofisico Di Arcetri - Author
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies - Author
Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Author
University of Tokyo - Author
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Abstract

© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. We present the first stellar velocity dispersion measurement of a massive quenching galaxy at z = 4. The galaxy is first identified as a massive z ≥ 4 galaxy with suppressed star formation from photometric redshifts based on deep multiband data. A follow-up spectroscopic observation with MOSFIRE on Keck revealed strong multiple absorption features, which are identified as Balmer lines, giving a secure redshift of z = 4.01. This is the most distant quiescent galaxy known to date. Thanks to the high S/N of the spectrum, we are able to estimate the stellar velocity dispersion, σ=268±59 km, making a significant leap from the previous highest redshift measurement at z = 2.8. Interestingly, we find that the velocity dispersion is consistent with that of massive galaxies today, implying no significant evolution in velocity dispersion over the last 12 Gyr. Based on a stringent upper limit on its physical size from deep optical images (r eff < 1.3 kpc), we find that its dynamical mass is consistent with the stellar mass inferred from photometry. Furthermore, the galaxy is located on the mass fundamental plane extrapolated from lower redshift galaxies. The observed no strong evolution in σ suggests that the mass in the core of massive galaxies does not evolve significantly, while most of the mass growth occurs in the outskirts of the galaxies, which also increases the size. This picture is consistent with a two-phase formation scenario in which mass and size growth is due to accretion in the outskirts of galaxies via mergers. Our results imply that the first phase may be completed as early as z ∼ 4.

Keywords

Angular-momentumDecompositionDigital sky surveyIi.Population synthesisRedshiftSize

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2019, it was in position 6/68, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Astronomy & Astrophysics. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.73. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 29.39 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-16, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 50
  • Scopus: 71

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 48.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 53 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 160.85.
  • The number of mentions on the social network Facebook: 3 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 26 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions on Wikipedia: 1 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 17 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Denmark; France; Japan; United States of America.