Stellar metallicity of galaxies: new insight on the formation and evolution of low surface brightness galaxies in the IllustrisTNG simulation

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this work, we investigate the stellar metallicities of low surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs) and normal high surface brightness galaxies (HSBGs) in the IllustrisTNG100-1 simulation. LSBGs and HSBGs are classified as galaxies with mean central surface brightness $\mu _{\rm r} \gt 22.0 $ and $\mu _{\rm r} \lt 22.0\rm \ mag\ arcsec^{-2}$, respectively. Our findings indicate that both LSBGs and HSBGs exhibit similar number distributions of stellar metallicities at high redshifts (z > 1.5). However, at low redshifts (z < 1.5), a clear bimodal distribution of stellar metallicities in galaxies emerges, with LSBGs tending to be more metal-poor than HSBGs. The lower metallicity of LSBGs compared to HSBGs is mostly attributed to the pronounced gradient in the radial distribution of stellar metallicities. The bimodality of stellar metallicity is not attributed to colour distinctions but rather to the slower metal enrichment in LSBGs compared to HSBGs. This suggests that the mechanisms driving metal enrichment in LSBGs differ from those in HSBGs.