{
  "abstract": "The properties of stellar bars play a crucial role in determining the bar-driven secular evolution in disc galaxies. However, a systematic observational study of the evolution of several bar properties (such as strength and length) across cosmic time is largely missing. In this paper, using a sample of $625$ barred galaxies, taken from SDSS, HST COSMOS, and JWST CEERS surveys, we systematically investigate the evolution of bar properties over redshifts ($0.02 \\lesssim z < 3$) by making a novel usage of dark gap (preferential light deficit along the bar minor axis) properties as a proxy for bar properties. We show that the dark gap strength ($Δμ_{\\rm max}$) exhibits a weak evolution, increasing from higher redshifts ($z \\sim 2.5$) and slightly declining towards lower redshifts ($z < 0.05$). Conversely, the extent of dark gaps ($R_{\\rm DG}, R_{\\rm dark}$; normalised by bar length) decreases moderately from $z \\geq 1.4$ and remains constant thereafter. Our results suggest that bar formation and the initial rapid growth phase occur before $z \\sim 3$, followed by mild growth towards lower redshifts. We also find $R_{\\rm dark}$ to be a better proxy (as compared to $R_{\\rm DG}$) for estimating bar length, supporting earlier theoretical studies. Furthermore, the $Δμ_{\\rm max}$ shows a weak but statistically significant correlation with bar-to-total light ratio (Bar/T) and bar ellipticity ($ε_{\\rm bar}$). Studies of the redshift evolution of bar properties over such an extensive redshift range as done here are instrumental in constraining the bar-driven evolution at early cosmic times.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.03022",
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Susnata Chattopadhyay"
    },
    {
      "name": "Soumavo Ghosh"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dimitri A. Gadotti"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zoe A. Le Conte"
    },
    {
      "name": "Taehyun Kim"
    },
    {
      "name": "Virginia Cuomo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Camila de Sá-Freitas"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Athanassoula"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q6t0w1512z2v.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.03022",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4q6t0w1512z2v",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03022",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.GA"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7208725264",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.03022",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q6t0w1512z2v.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
      "native_id": "2609.03022",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03022"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.GA",
      "subfield": "galaxies"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Evolution of bar-induced dark gaps in galaxy discs: evidence of strong bar-driven effects already at $z > 2$",
  "title_text": "Evolution of bar-induced dark gaps in galaxy discs: evidence of strong bar-driven effects already at z > 2",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q6t0w1512z2v",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}