{
  "abstract": "How galaxies stop forming stars is a complex and central problem in astrophysics. Numerous physical mechanisms have been proposed, yet a simple, unified framework connecting these mechanisms remains lacking. Here, we derive a step-function quenching response from the fundamental principle of gas mass conservation, governed by the competition between gas-supply and gas-depletion timescales. This response also enables the gas-supply timescale to be inferred from the observed quenched fraction. Applying this method to approximately 350,000 galaxies, we find a characteristic gas-supply timescale of ~1 Gyr, reveal distinct inside-out and outside-in quenching signatures associated with supermassive black holes and dark matter halos, respectively, and identify galaxies with intermediate stellar surface mass densities as occupying a critical state for quenching and rejuvenation. Our work establishes a unified physical framework in which a simple step-function response captures how diverse physical processes regulate galaxy quenching and the resumption of star formation through their effects on the competition between gas-supply and gas-depletion timescales.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.20505",
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Zhicheng He"
    },
    {
      "name": "Enci Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luis C. Ho"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yingjie Peng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Huiyuan Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yong Shi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tao Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yongquan Xue"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tinggui Wang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b7ve82c5k1sm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.20505",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2b7ve82c5k1sm",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.20505",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.CO"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.GA"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221995461",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.20505",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-14",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b7ve82c5k1sm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:29:31Z",
      "native_id": "2610.20505",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.20505"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.CO",
      "subfield": "cosmology"
    },
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.GA",
      "subfield": "galaxies"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Step-Like Transition Underlying the Life and Death of Galaxies",
  "title_text": "A Step-Like Transition Underlying the Life and Death of Galaxies",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:29:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b7ve82c5k1sm",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}