Spectroscopic and photometric studies have found massive quiescent galaxies (MQGs) at redshifts (z) greater than 2.5. An open and interesting question is what processes caused the quenching and assembly of MQGs at z> 2.5 when the universe was only a few billion years old. My research focuses on the impact of the environment on the quenching and assembly of MQGs at z=2.5-4.5. For this purpose, I am using data from the One-hundred-square-degree DECam Imaging in Narrowbands (ODIN) survey. The ODIN survey uses Lymanα emitters (LAEs) to trace the most massive cosmic structures (overdensities, fields, voids, filaments) at the redshift slices 4.5, 3.1, 2.4. The variations in the number densities and physical properties of MQGs in ∼ the diverse environments (overdensities, fields, voids, filaments) at z>2.5 is a valuable tool to understand the impact of environment in the evolution of galaxies. I am using SED fitting and observed colors to identify MQGs in the three ODIN redshift slices. I am studying the correlation of the positions of these MQGs with the filaments, overdensities, fields, and voids found in ODIN. I am also conducting a comparative study of the physical properties of the MQGs,LAEs, and Lymanbreak galaxies (LBGs) found in the variety of galaxy environments. ODIN is the widest-field, deep narrow-band survey, and this is the first large-scale study of the environments of massive quiescent galaxies at z>2.5. In this talk, I will discuss the positions and physical properties of the MQGs with respect to the large-scale structures found in the ODIN fields and the impact environment density has on their evolution.
Dr Akriti Singh recently completed her PhD in Astrophysics at Universidad Andrés Bello in Santiago, which included a studentship at the European Southern Observatory. Prior to that, she completed her Master’s degree at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, where her thesis focused on tidal disruption events. Her research centres on galaxy evolution in the early Universe, with particular emphasis on the role of environment and large-scale structure. She specialises in infrared and optical astronomy, working extensively with datasets from JWST, HST, VLT, and DECam.