CANDELS+3D-HST: compact SFGs at z~2-3, the progenitors of the first quiescent galaxies

Understand

We analyze the star-forming and structural properties of 45 massive (log(M/Msun)>10) compact star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 2<z<3 to explore whether they are progenitors of compact quiescent galaxies at z~2.

• The optical/NIR and far-IR Spitzer/Herschel colors indicate that most compact SFGs are heavily obscured.
• Nearly half (47%) host an X-ray bright AGN.
• In contrast, only about 10% of other massive galaxies at that time host AGNs.