New Constraints on the Evolution of the MH i −M⋆ Scaling Relation Combining CHILES and MIGHTEE-H i Data
Journal article, 2025
The improved sensitivity of interferometric facilities to the 21 cm line of atomic hydrogen (H i) enables studies of its properties in galaxies beyond the local Universe. In this work, we perform a 21 cm line spectral stacking analysis combining the MeerKAT International GigaHertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration and COSMOS H i Large Extra-galactic Survey surveys in the COSMOS field to derive a robust H i-stellar mass relation at z ≈ 0.36. In particular, by stacking thousands of star-forming galaxies subdivided into stellar mass bins, we optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of targets and derive mean H i masses in the different stellar mass intervals for the investigated galaxy population. We combine spectra from the two surveys, estimate H i masses, and derive the scaling relation log 10 M H I = ( 0.32 ± 0.04 ) log 10 M ⋆ + ( 6.65 ± 0.36 ) . Our findings indicate that galaxies at z ≈ 0.36 are H i richer than those at z ≈ 0 but H i poorer than those at z ≈ 1, with a slope consistent across redshift, suggesting that stellar mass does not significantly affect H i exchange mechanisms. We also observe a slower growth rate H i relative to the molecular gas, supporting the idea that the accretion of cold gas is slower than the rate of consumption of molecular gas to form stars. This study contributes to understanding the role of atomic gas in galaxy evolution and sets the stage for future development of the field in the upcoming Square Kilometre Array era.
Author
Alessandro Bianchetti
University of Padua
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Francesco Sinigaglia
University of Zürich
University of Geneva
G. Rodighiero
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
University of Padua
E. C. Elson
University of the Western Cape
M. Vaccari
University of the Western Cape
Istituto di Radioastronomia
D. J. Pisano
University of Cape Town
Nicholas Luber
Columbia University
I. Prandoni
Istituto di Radioastronomia
Kelley Michelle Hess
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
Maarten Baes
Ghent university
E. A.K. Adams
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
University of Groningen
F. M. Maccagni
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Alvio Renzini
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Laura Bisigello
University of Padua
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Min Yun
University of Massachusetts
E. Momjian
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro
Hansung B. Gim
University of Massachusetts
Montana State University
Hengxing Pan
University of Oxford
T. Oosterloo
Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro
Richard Dodson
University of Western Australia
Danielle Lucero
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
B. S. Frank
Royal Observatory
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)
University of the Western Cape
University of Cape Town
O. Ilbert
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
L. J. M. Davies
University of Western Australia
Ali A. Khostovan
Rochester Institute of Technology
M. Salvato
Max Planck Society
Astrophysical Journal
0004-637X (ISSN) 1538-4357 (eISSN)
Vol. 982 2 82Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology
DOI
10.3847/1538-4357/adb1b8