Revealing the Quiescent Galaxy Population in the Spiderweb Protocluster at z = 2.16 with Deep HST/WFC3 Slitless Spectroscopy

Abstract

We report the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 G141 grism slitless spectroscopy observation of the core region of the Spiderweb protocluster at z = 2.16. We analyzed the spectra of all objects in a $\sim 2\times 2\,{\mathrm{arcmin}}^{2}$ field of view and identified 40 protocluster members, recovering 19 previously identified H α emitters in addition to revealing 21 new members. The spectra allowed us to identify 11 galaxies with quiescent spectra. In all, 3 galaxies with quiescent spectra are possibly still star forming according to spectral energy distribution fitting, indicating a possible leftover or dust-obscured star formation. We estimate a quiescent fraction of ∼50% for M _⋆ > 10 ^11 M _⊙ . About half of the quiescent galaxies possibly host an active galactic nucleus (AGN), hinting at AGN’s key role in quenching galaxies in the protocluster environment. These quiescent galaxies have relatively more compact and concentrated light profiles than the star-forming members, but they are not yet as bulge dominated as local ellipticals. These results are consistent with previous studies that indicate the Spiderweb protocluster is in the maturing stage, with a red sequence that has begun forming.

Keywords

• Protoclusters
• Quenched galaxies
• High-redshift galaxy clusters
• Galaxy evolution