From starburst to quiescence: post-starburst galaxies and their
  large-scale clustering over cosmic time
  We present the first study of the large-scale clustering of post-starburst
(PSB) galaxies in the high redshift Universe ($0.5<z<3.0$). We select
$\sim4000$ PSB galaxies photometrically, the largest high-redshift sample of
this kind, from two deep large-scale near-infrared surveys: the UKIDSS Ultra
Deep Survey (UDS) DR11 and the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS). Using angular
cross-correlation techniques, we estimate the halo masses for this large sample
of PSB galaxies and compare them with quiescent and star-forming galaxies
selected in the same fields. We find that low-mass, low-redshift ($0.5<z<1.0$)
PSB galaxies preferentially reside in very high-mass dark matter halos
(M$_{\text{halo}}>10^{14}$M$_{\odot}$), suggesting they are likely to be
infalling satellite galaxies in cluster-like environments. High-mass PSB
galaxies are more weakly clustered at low redshifts, but they reside in higher
mass haloes with increasing look-back time, suggesting strong
redshift-dependent halo downsizing. These key results are consistent with
previous results suggesting that two main channels are responsible for the
rapid quenching of galaxies. While high-redshift ($z>1$) galaxies appear to be
quenched by secular feedback mechanisms, processes associated with dense
environments are likely to be the key driver of rapid quenching in the
low-redshift Universe ($z<1$). Finally, we show that the clustering of
photometrically selected PSBs are consistent with them being direct descendants
of highly dust-enshrouded sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs), providing tantalising
evidence for the oft-speculated evolutionary pathway from starburst to
quiescence.
