The size evolution of star-forming galaxies since z ∼ 7 using ZFOURGE
For the first time, we present the size evolution of a mass-complete (log(M{sub *}/M{sub ⊙}) > 10) sample of star-forming galaxies over redshifts z = 1–7, selected from the FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey. Observed H-band sizes are measured from the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS) Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/F160W imaging. Distributions of individual galaxy masses and sizes illustrate that a clear mass−size relation exists up to z ∼ 7. At z ∼ 7, we find that the average galaxy size from the mass−size relation is more compact at a fixed mass of log(M{sub *}/M{sub ⊙}) = 10.1, with r{sub 1/2,maj}=1.02±0.29 kpc, than at lower redshifts. This is consistent with our results from stacking the same CANDELS HST/F160W imaging, when we correct for galaxy position angle alignment. We find that the size evolution of star-forming galaxies is well fit by a power law of the form r{sub e}=7.07(1+z){sup −0.89} kpc, which is consistent with previous works for normal star-formers at 1 < z < 4. In order to compare our slope with those derived Lyman break galaxy studies, we correct for different IMFs and methodology and find a slope of −0.97 ± 0.02, which is shallower than that reported for the evolution of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z > 4 (r{sub e}∝(1+z){sup −1.2±0.06}). Therefore, we conclude the LBGs likely represent a subset of highly star-forming galaxies that exhibit rapid size growth at z > 4.