The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon

Maya Skarbinski; Kate Rowlands; Katherine Alatalo; Vivienne Wild; Adam C. Carnall; Omar Almaini; David Maltby; Thomas de Lisle; Timothy Heckman; Ryan Begley; Fergus Cullen; James S. Dunlop; Guillaume Hewitt; Ho-Hin Leung; Derek McLeod; Ross McLure; Justin Atsushi Otter; Pallavi Patil; Andreea Petric; Alice E. Shapley; Struan Stevenson; Elizabeth Taylor

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d

The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon

Maya Skarbinski, Kate Rowlands, Katherine Alatalo, Vivienne Wild, Adam C. Carnall, Omar Almaini, David Maltby, Thomas de Lisle, Timothy Heckman, Ryan Begley, Fergus Cullen, James S. Dunlop, Guillaume Hewitt, Ho-Hin Leung, Derek McLeod, Ross McLure, Justin Atsushi Otter, Pallavi Patil, Andreea Petric, Alice E. ShapleyStruan Stevenson, Elizabeth Taylor

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We study 24 massive quiescent galaxies with log M_* /M_⊙ > 10 at 1 < z < 3 with JWST/NIRSpec medium resolution observations from the Early Extragalactic Continuum and Emission Line Survey (EXCELS). We reconstruct their star formation histories and find that they have large bursts (100–1000 M_⊙ yr⁻¹ ), followed by a rapid truncation of star formation. The number densities of the quenched galaxies in our sample that we predict underwent a submillimeter phase are consistent with submillimeter galaxies being the progenitors of our quenched population. The median post-starburst visibility time is ∼600 Myr, with more massive galaxies (log M_* / M_⊙ > 10.7) exhibiting shorter visibility times than lower-mass galaxies. The range of quenching times—defined as the time from the peak starburst to the time of quiescence—found in this sample (0.06–1.75 Gyr) suggests multiple quenching pathways, consistent with previous studies. We do not see evidence for quenching mechanisms varying with redshift between 1 < z < 3. We detect evidence for weak active galactic nucleus activity in four out of the eight galaxies with robust emission line detections, based on line ratio diagnostics. Our findings suggest that there is a diverse range of quenching mechanisms at Cosmic Noon, and support a scenario in which the primary quenching mechanisms are rapid (<500 Myr) following a starburst.

Original language	English
Article number	191
Number of pages	17
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	1000
Issue number	2
Early online date	24 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2026

Keywords

Galaxy evolution
Galaxy quenching
Quenched galaxies
PSBs
Starburst galaxies
Active galactic nuclei

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Skarbinski_2026_ApJ_JWST-EXCELS-survey-quenching_CC
© 2026 The Author(s). Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Final published version, 4.93 MBLicence: CC BY

Quenching Galaxies In MOONRISE: Quenching galaxies in MOONRISE
Wild, V. (PI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/04/24 → 31/03/27
Project: Standard

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Skarbinski, M., Rowlands, K., Alatalo, K., Wild, V., Carnall, A. C., Almaini, O., Maltby, D., de Lisle, T., Heckman, T., Begley, R., Cullen, F., Dunlop, J. S., Hewitt, G., Leung, H.-H., McLeod, D., McLure, R., Otter, J. A., Patil, P., Petric, A., ... Taylor, E. (2026). The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon. Astrophysical Journal, 1000(2), Article 191. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d

@article{4d1a730f42bb47558139516617d144e6,

title = "The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon",

abstract = "We study 24 massive quiescent galaxies with log M* /M⊙ > 10 at 1 < z < 3 with JWST/NIRSpec medium resolution observations from the Early Extragalactic Continuum and Emission Line Survey (EXCELS). We reconstruct their star formation histories and find that they have large bursts (100–1000 M⊙ yr−1 ), followed by a rapid truncation of star formation. The number densities of the quenched galaxies in our sample that we predict underwent a submillimeter phase are consistent with submillimeter galaxies being the progenitors of our quenched population. The median post-starburst visibility time is ∼600 Myr, with more massive galaxies (log M* / M⊙ > 10.7) exhibiting shorter visibility times than lower-mass galaxies. The range of quenching times—defined as the time from the peak starburst to the time of quiescence—found in this sample (0.06–1.75 Gyr) suggests multiple quenching pathways, consistent with previous studies. We do not see evidence for quenching mechanisms varying with redshift between 1 < z < 3. We detect evidence for weak active galactic nucleus activity in four out of the eight galaxies with robust emission line detections, based on line ratio diagnostics. Our findings suggest that there is a diverse range of quenching mechanisms at Cosmic Noon, and support a scenario in which the primary quenching mechanisms are rapid (<500 Myr) following a starburst.",

keywords = "Galaxy evolution, Galaxy quenching, Quenched galaxies, PSBs, Starburst galaxies, Active galactic nuclei",

author = "Maya Skarbinski and Kate Rowlands and Katherine Alatalo and Vivienne Wild and Carnall, \{Adam C.\} and Omar Almaini and David Maltby and \{de Lisle\}, Thomas and Timothy Heckman and Ryan Begley and Fergus Cullen and Dunlop, \{James S.\} and Guillaume Hewitt and Ho-Hin Leung and Derek McLeod and Ross McLure and Otter, \{Justin Atsushi\} and Pallavi Patil and Andreea Petric and Shapley, \{Alice E.\} and Struan Stevenson and Elizabeth Taylor",

note = "Funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the NASA Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP) under grant 80NSSC23K0495 and the Maryland Space Grant. V.W. acknowledges support from STFC grant (ST/Y00275X/1) and Leverhulme Research Fellowship (RF-2024-589/4). J.O. acknowledges support from the Space Telescope Science Institute Director{\textquoteright}s Discretionary Research Fund grants D0101.90296 and D0101.90311. O.A. acknowledges the support from STFC grant ST/X006581/1. A.C.C., H.-H.L., S.S., and E.T. acknowledge support from a UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee Grant (PI: Carnall; grant reference EP/Y037065/1). F.C. acknowledges support from a UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee Grant (PI: Cullen; grant reference EP/X021025/1).",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d",

language = "English",

volume = "1000",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

}

Skarbinski, M, Rowlands, K, Alatalo, K, Wild, V, Carnall, AC, Almaini, O, Maltby, D, de Lisle, T, Heckman, T, Begley, R, Cullen, F, Dunlop, JS, Hewitt, G, Leung, H-H, McLeod, D, McLure, R, Otter, JA, Patil, P, Petric, A, Shapley, AE, Stevenson, S & Taylor, E 2026, 'The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 1000, no. 2, 191. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d

TY - JOUR

T1 - The JWST EXCELS survey

T2 - insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon

AU - Skarbinski, Maya

AU - Rowlands, Kate

AU - Alatalo, Katherine

AU - Wild, Vivienne

AU - Carnall, Adam C.

AU - Almaini, Omar

AU - Maltby, David

AU - de Lisle, Thomas

AU - Heckman, Timothy

AU - Begley, Ryan

AU - Cullen, Fergus

AU - Dunlop, James S.

AU - Hewitt, Guillaume

AU - Leung, Ho-Hin

AU - McLeod, Derek

AU - McLure, Ross

AU - Otter, Justin Atsushi

AU - Patil, Pallavi

AU - Petric, Andreea

AU - Shapley, Alice E.

AU - Stevenson, Struan

AU - Taylor, Elizabeth

N1 - Funding: The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the NASA Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP) under grant 80NSSC23K0495 and the Maryland Space Grant. V.W. acknowledges support from STFC grant (ST/Y00275X/1) and Leverhulme Research Fellowship (RF-2024-589/4). J.O. acknowledges support from the Space Telescope Science Institute Director’s Discretionary Research Fund grants D0101.90296 and D0101.90311. O.A. acknowledges the support from STFC grant ST/X006581/1. A.C.C., H.-H.L., S.S., and E.T. acknowledge support from a UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee Grant (PI: Carnall; grant reference EP/Y037065/1). F.C. acknowledges support from a UKRI Frontier Research Guarantee Grant (PI: Cullen; grant reference EP/X021025/1).

PY - 2026/4/1

Y1 - 2026/4/1

N2 - We study 24 massive quiescent galaxies with log M* /M⊙ > 10 at 1 < z < 3 with JWST/NIRSpec medium resolution observations from the Early Extragalactic Continuum and Emission Line Survey (EXCELS). We reconstruct their star formation histories and find that they have large bursts (100–1000 M⊙ yr−1 ), followed by a rapid truncation of star formation. The number densities of the quenched galaxies in our sample that we predict underwent a submillimeter phase are consistent with submillimeter galaxies being the progenitors of our quenched population. The median post-starburst visibility time is ∼600 Myr, with more massive galaxies (log M* / M⊙ > 10.7) exhibiting shorter visibility times than lower-mass galaxies. The range of quenching times—defined as the time from the peak starburst to the time of quiescence—found in this sample (0.06–1.75 Gyr) suggests multiple quenching pathways, consistent with previous studies. We do not see evidence for quenching mechanisms varying with redshift between 1 < z < 3. We detect evidence for weak active galactic nucleus activity in four out of the eight galaxies with robust emission line detections, based on line ratio diagnostics. Our findings suggest that there is a diverse range of quenching mechanisms at Cosmic Noon, and support a scenario in which the primary quenching mechanisms are rapid (<500 Myr) following a starburst.

AB - We study 24 massive quiescent galaxies with log M* /M⊙ > 10 at 1 < z < 3 with JWST/NIRSpec medium resolution observations from the Early Extragalactic Continuum and Emission Line Survey (EXCELS). We reconstruct their star formation histories and find that they have large bursts (100–1000 M⊙ yr−1 ), followed by a rapid truncation of star formation. The number densities of the quenched galaxies in our sample that we predict underwent a submillimeter phase are consistent with submillimeter galaxies being the progenitors of our quenched population. The median post-starburst visibility time is ∼600 Myr, with more massive galaxies (log M* / M⊙ > 10.7) exhibiting shorter visibility times than lower-mass galaxies. The range of quenching times—defined as the time from the peak starburst to the time of quiescence—found in this sample (0.06–1.75 Gyr) suggests multiple quenching pathways, consistent with previous studies. We do not see evidence for quenching mechanisms varying with redshift between 1 < z < 3. We detect evidence for weak active galactic nucleus activity in four out of the eight galaxies with robust emission line detections, based on line ratio diagnostics. Our findings suggest that there is a diverse range of quenching mechanisms at Cosmic Noon, and support a scenario in which the primary quenching mechanisms are rapid (<500 Myr) following a starburst.

KW - Galaxy evolution

KW - Galaxy quenching

KW - Quenched galaxies

KW - PSBs

KW - Starburst galaxies

KW - Active galactic nuclei

U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ae459d

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 1000

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

M1 - 191

ER -

The JWST EXCELS survey: insights into the nature of quenching at cosmic noon

Abstract

Keywords

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Quenching Galaxies In MOONRISE: Quenching galaxies in MOONRISE

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