The ALHAMBRA survey: tight dependence of the optical mass-to-light ratio on galaxy colour up to z=1.5

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Lopez-Sanjuan, C. ; Diaz-Garcia, L. A. ; Cenarro, A. J. ; Fernandez-Soto, A. ; Viironen, K. ; Molino, A. ; Benitez, N. ; Cristobal-Hornillos, D. ; Moles, M. ; Varela, J. ; Arnalte-Mur, P. ; Ascaso, B. ; Castander, F. J. ; Cervino, M. ; Delgado, R. M. Gonzalez ; Husillos, C. ; Marquez, I. ; Masegosa, J. ; Del Olmo, A. ; Povic, M. ; Perea, J.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS; v. 622, p. 9-pg., 2019-01-25.

Abstract

Aims. Our goal is to characterise the dependence of the optical mass-to-light ratio on galaxy colour up to z = 1.5, expanding the redshift range explored in previous work. Methods. From the redshifts, stellar masses, and rest-frame luminosities of the ALHAMBRA multi-filter survey, we derive the mass-to-light ratio versus colour relation for quiescent and for star-forming galaxies. The intrinsic relation and its physical dispersion are derived with a Bayesian inference model. Results. The rest-frame i-band mass-to-light ratio of quiescent and star-forming galaxies presents a tight correlation with the rest-frame (g - i) colour up to z = 1.5. The mass-to-light ratio versus colour relation is linear for quiescent galaxies and quadratic for star-forming galaxies. The intrinsic dispersion in these relations is 0.02 dex for quiescent galaxies and 0.06 dex for star-forming ones. The derived relations do not present a significant redshift evolution and are compatible with previous local results in the literature. Finally, these tight relations also hold for g- and r-band luminosities. Conclusions. The derived mass-to-light ratio versus colour relations in ALHAMBRA can be used to predict the mass-to-light ratio from a rest-frame optical colour up to z = 1.5. These tight correlations do not change with redshift, suggesting that galaxies have evolved along the derived relations during the last 9 Gyr. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/11806-9 - Challenges for the new generation of wide-field photometric redshift surveys like J-PAS
• Grantee: Alberto Molino Benito
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral