Abstract

We present the 0.6 < z < 2.6 evolution of the ionized gas velocity dispersion in 175 star-forming disk galaxies based on data from the full KMOS3D integral field spectroscopic survey. In a forward-modeling Bayesian framework including instrumental effects and beam-smearing, we fit simultaneously the observed galaxy velocity and velocity dispersion along the kinematic major axis to derive the intrinsic velocity dispersion sigma(0). We find a reduction of the average intrinsic velocity dispersion of disk galaxies as a function of cosmic time, from sigma(0) similar to 45 km s(-1) at z similar to 2.3 to sigma(0) similar to 30 km s(-1) at z similar to 0.9. There is substantial intrinsic scatter (sigma(sigma 0,int) approximate to 10 km s(-1)), around the best-fit sigma(0)-z relation beyond what can be accounted for from the typical measurement uncertainties (delta sigma(0) approximate to 12 km s(-1)), independent of other identifiable galaxy parameters. This potentially suggests a dynamic mechanism such as minor mergers or variation in accretion being responsible for the scatter. Putting our data into the broader literature context, we find that ionized and atomic+ molecular velocity dispersions evolve similarly with redshift, with the ionized gas dispersion being similar to 10-15 km s(-1) higher on average. We investigate the physical driver of the on average elevated velocity dispersions at higher redshift and find that our galaxies are at most marginally Toomre-stable, suggesting that their turbulent velocities are powered by gravitational instabilities, while stellar feedback as a driver alone is insufficient. This picture is supported through comparison with a state-of-the-art analytical model of galaxy evolution.