Galaxy Ages with Redshift z = 2–4: Stellar Population Synthesis for Candidates in FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey

Abstract

Abstract Observations of large amounts of massive galaxies with relatively old populations found at high redshifts are challenging galaxy formation scenarios within the standard cosmology. Precise determinations of the average age of these galaxies would be useful for the discussion of this problem. Here we carry out a better constraint of the age of 200 V-shaped spectral energy distribution (SED) nonactive galactic nucleus galaxies at redshifts 2 < z < 4 of the catalog of the FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey, identified by the V shape in their SED with a Lyman and a Balmer break. The SED fitting includes a main stellar population in addition to a residual younger population and extinction. The galaxies are younger at a higher redshift on average. However, for the galaxies with z > 2.5, we do not see a significant evolution of their average age, with all average ages of the galaxies mostly remaining between 1 and 2 Gyr. Our research finds that most massive galaxies (∼1010 M ⊙) are older (typically > ∼1 Gyr old) and formed earlier than less massive galaxies in our sample.