Unveiling the population of massive quenched galaxies at $z\ge2$ in the COLIBRE simulations -- II. The role of AGN feedback and environment on their emergence

Abstract

Early ($z \gtrsim 2$) Massive ($M_{\star} \gtrsim 10^{10}\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$), Quenched Galaxies (MQGs) challenge current galaxy formation models. In this series, we study these systems using the new COLIBRE cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Following the broad agreement between its predictions and observations found in the first paper, this second paper explores the processes driving galaxies to become massive and quenched in COLIBRE, identifying Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) feedback as the primary quenching mechanism in both the thermal (L200m6 simulation) and hybrid (thermal+jet, L200m7h simulation) AGN feedback models implemented. However, the two models behave differently: while the thermal model efficiently quenches massive galaxies at $z>3$, the hybrid model is less effective because black holes (BHs) grow more slowly in the early Universe, and the jet component, which dominates the feedback energy, acts on longer timescales to impact galaxies. Both models predict quasar-like MQGs (AGN with $L_{\rm bol}\gtrsim10^{45}\,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$), with the most luminous systems associated with more recently quenched galaxies. Compared to star-forming galaxies of similar mass, MQGs host more massive BHs and exhibit higher star formation efficiencies. These differences arise primarily from their environments before quenching, particularly at local ($\rm 0.3\,cMpc$) to intermediate scales ($\rm 1.0\,cMpc$), where overdense regions are associated with enhanced gas inflows, higher BH accretion and, hence, feedback power. We find that about $54\%$ ($20\%$) of the $z=3$ MQGs survive as the main progenitors of $z=0$ galaxies, although up to $56\%$ ($60\%$) experience rejuvenation episodes at $z<3$ in L200m6 (L200m7h). Our results highlight the central role of BH growth, AGN feedback and environment in driving rapid quenching in the early Universe.