Tracing Radio AGN-Driven Quenching in Post-Starburst Galaxies at Cosmic Noon

Abstract

We present a radio continuum study of photometrically selected cosmic noon (0.5<z<3) post-starburst galaxies (PSBs) in the UKIDSS Deep Survey (UDS) field to assess if radio-mode Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are linked to the quenching of star formation at cosmic noon. Our cross-matching using the deep Very Large Array (VLA) imaging at 1.4 GHz results in a mean radio detection fraction ($f_{det}$) of only 0.8$\%$ for PSBs above a radio luminosity threshold of $L_{1.4GHz}\ge 10^{24}$ W Hz${}^{-1}$, increasing to 5$\pm 2\%$ for massive PSBs with stellar masses M${}_{\ast }>10^{11}$M${}_{\odot }$. Massive PSBs have a comparable detection fraction to that of massive quiescent galaxies ($f_{det}=8\pm 1\%$), and both classes have lower fractions than that of massive star-forming galaxies ($f_{det}=13\pm 1\%$) in the same field. The radio luminosities of detected PSBs, ${\mathrm{L}}_{1.4}\sim 10^{22.8}-10^{24.9}$W/Hz, exceed those from star formation by a median factor of 37 indicative of a possible AGN origin. Their compact morphologies ($\lesssim 15$ kpc at $z_{med}=1.5$) suggest low-luminosity AGN with less powerful jets. Stacking the undetected PSBs reveals a weak radio detection ($3.9\ddot{I}ƒ$) in the highest mass bin (M${}_{\ast }>10^{11}$M${}_{\odot }$). In contrast, 1.4 GHz detected quiescent galaxies have radio luminosities reaching radio-loud levels, and a higher prevalence of extended morphologies indicative of large-scale jetted AGN. The AGN contribution is also detected in stacked measurements of quiescent galaxies. Overall, our results support a short radio AGN duty cycle for PSBs, characterized by weak radio jets, suggesting radio-driven maintenance mode feedback may become important at older ages.

25 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal