COSMOS-Web galaxy groups: Evolution of red sequence and quiescent galaxy fraction
Pith reviewed 2026-05-22 13:08 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Quiescent galaxies accumulate steadily in groups from z=2 onward, faster in richer systems, while the red sequence ridgeline stabilizes early and shows no evolution over 12 Gyr.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
In AMICO-selected groups from the COSMOS-Web survey, quiescent galaxy fractions rise steadily from z=1.5-2 across all richness bins, with the most massive groups showing the earliest and fastest increase; the red-sequence ridgeline is already in place by z~2, and neither its slope nor its scatter changes measurably over the subsequent 12 Gyr; a rare overdensity of quiescent galaxies appears at z=3.4, while X-ray faint groups display lower average quiescent fractions than X-ray bright ones.
What carries the argument
Machine-learning classifier trained on rest-frame magnitudes that outputs a quiescent probability for each galaxy, combined with AMICO membership probabilities and sigma-clipped ridgeline fitting on photometric colors.
If this is right
- Environmental processes inside groups must begin quenching star formation as early as z=2 and act more efficiently in richer systems.
- Once galaxies reach the red sequence, their color evolution proceeds without measurable changes to the sequence's slope or scatter for the next 12 billion years.
- X-ray faint groups, typically located in filaments, experience slower quenching than X-ray bright groups at the same redshift.
- The presence of a quiescent overdensity at z=3.4 implies that some early red sequences can form in overdense regions well before z=2.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- Group environments appear to accelerate the transition to quiescence relative to the average field population at the same epoch.
- The stability of red-sequence parameters may constrain how quickly stellar populations age after quenching without requiring large changes in dust or metallicity.
- Repeating the same analysis in wider surveys could test whether the observed richness dependence scales directly with dark-matter halo mass.
Load-bearing premise
The machine-learning tool correctly separates quiescent from star-forming galaxies at all redshifts up to 3.7 without large contamination or incompleteness that would distort the measured fractions or ridgeline parameters.
What would settle it
A measurement showing quiescent fractions at z greater than 3 that are either much higher or much lower than the steady-buildup trend, or a clear change in red-sequence slope between z=2 and z=0 in the same group sample, would contradict the central claim.
Figures
read the original abstract
We investigate the redshift and group richness dependence of the quiescent fraction and red-sequence (RS) parameters in COSMOS galaxy groups from z=0 to z=3.7. We analyzed the deep and well-characterized sample of groups detected with AMICO in the COSMOS(-Web) field. Our study of the quiescent galaxy population is based on a machine-learning classification tool based on rest-frame magnitudes. The algorithm learns from several traditional methods to estimate the probability of a galaxy being quiescent, achieving high precision and recall. Starting from this classification, we computed quiescent galaxy fractions within groups via two methods: one based on the membership probabilities provided by AMICO, which rely on an analytical model, and another using a model-independent technique. We then detected the RS by estimating the ridgeline position using photometric data, followed by sigma clipping to remove outliers. This analysis was performed using both rest-frame and observed-frame magnitudes with rest-frame matching. We compared the results from both approaches and investigated the $z$ and richness dependence of the RS parameters. We found that the quiescent galaxy population in groups builds up steadily from z=1.5-2 across all richnesses, with faster and earlier growth in the richest groups. The first galaxies settle onto the RS ridgeline by $z \sim 2$, consistent with current evolutionary scenarios. Notably, we reported a rare overdensity of quiescent galaxies at z=3.4, potentially one of the most distant early RSs observed. Extending our study to X-rays, we found that X-ray faint groups have, on average, lower quiescent fractions than X-ray bright ones, likely reflecting their typical location in filaments. Leveraging the broad wavelength coverage of COSMOS2025, we traced RS evolution over $\sim 12$ Gyr, finding no significant trends in either slope or scatter of the ridgeline.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper analyzes the redshift and richness dependence of quiescent galaxy fractions and red sequence (RS) parameters in AMICO-detected galaxy groups in the COSMOS field from z=0 to z=3.7. It uses a machine-learning classifier based on rest-frame magnitudes to determine quiescent probabilities, computes fractions with AMICO membership probabilities and a model-independent approach, and fits the RS ridgeline via sigma-clipping in rest- and observed-frame. The main results are a steady buildup of quiescent galaxies from z ≈ 1.5–2 (faster in richer groups), early RS settlement by z ∼ 2, no significant evolution in RS slope or scatter over ∼12 Gyr, and a reported quiescent overdensity at z=3.4.
Significance. If the central results hold, this study would provide key observational evidence for the gradual assembly of the red sequence in group environments over a wide redshift range, with implications for models of environmental quenching. Strengths include the use of two independent methods for quiescent fractions, sigma-clipping for robust RS detection, and leveraging the extensive COSMOS photometry for high-z reach. The comparison of X-ray bright and faint groups adds context on environmental effects.
major comments (1)
- [§3.2] The machine-learning classification tool is trained on rest-frame magnitudes from traditional methods; however, at z > 2.5, rest-frame colors rely on photometric redshifts with increased uncertainties and fewer bands. This raises the risk of redshift-dependent contamination or incompleteness that could bias the quiescent fractions (computed via AMICO probabilities) and the sigma-clipped RS parameters. A redshift-binned validation against spectroscopic data or mock catalogs is required to confirm the reported trends and the z=3.4 overdensity.
minor comments (2)
- [Abstract] The abstract states 'COSMOS(-Web) field'; clarifying the exact survey area and depth used would aid readers.
- Consider adding a table summarizing the RS fit parameters (slope, scatter, zero-point) across redshift bins for easier comparison.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for their careful and constructive review of our manuscript. We address the major comment below and have revised the paper to strengthen the validation of our methods at high redshift.
read point-by-point responses
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Referee: [§3.2] The machine-learning classification tool is trained on rest-frame magnitudes from traditional methods; however, at z > 2.5, rest-frame colors rely on photometric redshifts with increased uncertainties and fewer bands. This raises the risk of redshift-dependent contamination or incompleteness that could bias the quiescent fractions (computed via AMICO probabilities) and the sigma-clipped RS parameters. A redshift-binned validation against spectroscopic data or mock catalogs is required to confirm the reported trends and the z=3.4 overdensity.
Authors: We agree that explicit validation of the machine-learning classifier at z > 2.5 is warranted, as photometric redshift uncertainties and reduced band coverage can affect rest-frame color estimates. The classifier is trained to reproduce outputs from traditional methods that rely on the identical photometric inputs, which provides internal consistency, but we acknowledge this does not fully substitute for an independent check. In the revised manuscript we will add a dedicated subsection to §3.2 that performs a redshift-binned comparison of ML quiescent probabilities against available spectroscopic classifications in the COSMOS field for z > 2.5. We will also examine the photometric redshift quality and band coverage specifically for the galaxies contributing to the z=3.4 overdensity. These additions will directly address the potential for redshift-dependent bias in both the quiescent fractions and the RS parameters. revision: yes
Circularity Check
Observational measurements with no self-referential derivations
full rationale
This paper is a data-driven observational analysis of COSMOS galaxy groups. Quiescent fractions are computed directly from AMICO membership probabilities (analytical model) and a model-independent count, after applying an ML classifier trained on rest-frame magnitudes and traditional methods. RS ridgeline parameters come from sigma-clipping fits to photometric data in both rest-frame and observed-frame. No equations or steps reduce a claimed result to a fitted input by construction, no self-citations bear the load of the central evolutionary trends, and all quantities are externally falsifiable against the input catalog. The derivation chain is therefore self-contained against external benchmarks.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
free parameters (1)
- ML classifier decision threshold
axioms (1)
- domain assumption AMICO membership probabilities accurately reflect true group membership without significant projection effects.
Reference graph
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discussion (0)
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