Program: GS-2018A-FT-112

Title:Investigating the Quenching of a Massive, Gas-Rich z~0.6 Galaxy with Extended Molecular Gas and Strong Ionized Gas Emissions
PI:Qiana Hunt
Co-I(s): Rachel Bezanson, Jenny Greene, Katherine Suess, Mariska Kriek, Khalil Hall-Hooper, David Setton

Abstract

We have identified a massive, gas-rich post-starburst galaxy at z~0.6 that exhibits unusual gas properties and possible tidal features. The target, SDSS J1448+1010, shows strong [OIII] emission in its SDSS spectrum, while preliminary data from a Cycle 5 ALMA survey reveal dramatic extended CO(2-1) emission that span ~80 kpc and constitute > 50% of the total CO luminosity. We suspect both the ionized and molecular gas properties may be the result of AGN-driven outflows or a merger. To assess its formation history, we propose to obtain spatially-resolved spectroscopic observations of SDSS J1448+1010 using GMOS-S. By mapping the stellar populations and kinematics and the spatial extent and kinematics of the ionized gas, we will search for evidence of AGN outflows and merger signatures and determine whether the ionized gas traces the molecular gas. These observations will help us understand what physical process triggered the quenching of star formation in this gas-rich post-starburst galaxy.

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