The Diverse Molecular Gas Content of Massive Galaxies Undergoing Quenching at z~1

Understand

We present a detailed study of the molecular gas content and stellar population properties of three massive galaxies at 1 < z < 1.3 that are in different stages of quenching.

• The galaxies were selected to have a quiescent optical/near-infrared spectral energy distribution and a relatively bright emission at 24 micron, and show remarkably diverse properties.
• CO emission from each of the three galaxies is detected in deep NOEMA observations, allowing us to derive molecular gas fractions Mgas/Mstar of 13-23%.
• We also reconstruct the star formation histories by fitting models to the observed photometry and optical spectroscopy, finding evidence for recent rejuvenation in one object, slow quenching in another, and rapid quenching in the third system.