The size evolution of galaxies since z∼3:: Combining SDSS, gems, and fires

We present the evolution of the luminosity-size and stellar mass-size relations of luminous ( L-V greater than or similar to 3.4 x 10(10) h(70)(-2) L-circle dot) and massive ( M-* greater than or similar to 3 x 10(10) h(70)(-2) M-circle dot) galaxies in the last similar to 11 Gyr. We use very deep near-infrared images of the Hubble Deep Field-South and the MS 1054-03 field in the J(s), H, and K-s bands from FIRES to retrieve the sizes in the optical rest frame for galaxies with z > 1. We combine our results with those from GEMS at 0.2 < z < 1 and SDSS at z similar to 0.1 to achieve a comprehensive picture of the optical rest-frame size evolution from z = 0 to 3. Galaxies are differentiated according to their light concentration using the Sersic index n. For less concentrated objects, the galaxies at a given luminosity were typically similar to 3 +/- 0.5 ( +/- 2 sigma) times smaller at z similar to 2: 5 than those we see today. The stellar mass-size relation has evolved less: the mean size at a given stellar mass was similar to 2 +/- 0.5 times smaller at z similar to 2.5, evolving proportionally to ( 1 + z) - 0.40 +/- 0.06. Simple scaling relations between dark matter halos and baryons in a hierarchical cosmogony predict a stronger ( although consistent within the error bars) than observed evolution of the stellar mass-size relation. The observed luminosity-size evolution out to z similar to 2.5 matches well recent infall model predictions for Milky Way-type objects. For low-n galaxies, the evolution of the stellar mass-size relation would follow naturally if the individual galaxies grow inside out. For highly concentrated objects, the situation is as follows: at a given luminosity, these galaxies were similar to 2.7 +/- 1.1 times smaller at z similar to 2.5 ( or, put differently, were typically similar to 2.2 +/- 0.7 mag brighter at a given size than they are today), and at a given stellar mass the size has evolved proportionally to ( 1 + z)(-0.45 +/- 0.10).