Evolution of Density Profiles in High-z Galaxies: Compaction and Quenching Inside-Out

Understand

Using cosmological simulations, we address the interplay between structure and star formation in high-redshift galaxies via the evolution of surface density profiles.

• Our sample consists of 26 galaxies evolving in the redshift range $z=7-1$, spanning the stellar mass range $(0.2-6.4)\times 10^{10}M_\odot$ at $z=2$.
• We recover the main trends by stacking the profiles in accordance to their evolution phases.
• Following a wet compaction event that typically occurs when the stellar mass is $\sim10^{9.5}~M_{\odot}$ at $z\sim2-4$, the gas develops a cusp inside the effective radius, associated with a peak in star-formation rate (SFR).