| This dissertation explores three projects in the field of galaxy formation and evolution: the formation of the red sequence via quenching, the detection, characterization, and frequency of starbursts in the DEEP2 sample, and the behavior of a main sequence of star forming galaxies whose behavior is determined by baryonic mass, referred to as staged star formation.;The first section, in Chapter 2, presents a breakdown of several population synthesis models designed to probe the history of the red sequence. Known from measurements at low redshift to be composed of objects with a large range of ages, the red sequence is not well-modeled as being the result of a single monolithic event in the distant past. By combining information on restframe color, Balmer absorption line strengths, and the number density of L* galaxies as a function of redshift, we find evidence that the red sequence is built up over time.;The second section, in Chapter 3 and 4, presents a novel method for determining simultaneously the absorption line and emission line contributions to the total measured equivalent width of Balmer lines. Relying on the predictable behavior of both absorption lines, which are to first order equivalent to one another, and emission lines, which follow a predictable decrement toward shorter wavelengths, a single measurement of total line strength for Hbeta and Hdelta yield uncoupled emission and absorption line components. Using the measurement of Hdelta in absorption against Dn4000 and Hbeta in emission, we isolate a population of potential starbursts in the DEEP2 sample.;The final section, in Chapter 5, explores the regularity of star formation as a function of redshift, using the staged star formation prescription of Noeske et al. (2007a). We compute a set of tau-models using the prescription, and compare them to the data in a number of parameters in addition to mass and star formation. While the staged star formation model is a good match in a number of parameters, we find several irregularities. |
