PRIMUS: Effect of Galaxy Environment on the Quiescent Fraction Evolution
  at z < 0.8
  We investigate the effects of galaxy environment on the evolution of the
quiescent fraction ($f_\mathrm{Q}$) from z =0.8 to 0.0 using spectroscopic
redshifts and multi-wavelength imaging data from the PRIsm MUlti-object Survey
(PRIMUS) and the Sloan Digitial Sky Survey (SDSS). Our stellar mass limited
galaxy sample consists of ~14,000 PRIMUS galaxies within z = 0.2-0.8 and
~64,000 SDSS galaxies within z = 0.05-0.12. We classify the galaxies as
quiescent or star-forming based on an evolving specific star formation cut, and
as low or high density environments based on fixed cylindrical aperture
environment measurements on a volume-limited environment defining population.
For quiescent and star-forming galaxies in low or high density environments, we
examine the evolution of their stellar mass function (SMF). Then using the SMFs
we compute $f_\mathrm{Q}(M_{*})$ and quantify its evolution within our redshift
range. We find that the quiescent fraction is higher at higher masses and in
denser environments. The quiescent fraction rises with cosmic time for all
masses and environments. At a fiducial mass of $10^{10.5}M_\odot$, from z~0.7
to 0.1, the quiescent fraction rises by 15% at the lowest environments and by
25% at the highest environments we measure. These results suggest that for a
minority of galaxies their cessation of star formation is due to external
influences on them. However, in the recent Universe a substantial fraction of
the galaxies that cease forming stars do so due to internal processes.
