Hierarchical Galaxy Formation Models Research Articles

Ultra–Low Surface Brightness Imaging with the Dragonfly Telephoto Array

We describe the Dragonfly Telephoto Array, a robotic imaging system optimized for the detection of extended ultra–low surface brightness structures. The array consists of eight Canon 400 mm f/2.8 L IS II USM telephoto lenses coupled to eight science-grade commercial CCD cameras. The lenses are mounted on a common framework and are coaligned to simultaneously image the same position on the sky. The system provides an imaging capability equivalent to a 0.4 m aperture f/1.0 refractor with a 2.6° × 1.9° field of view. The system is driven by custom software for instrument control and robotic operation. Data is collected with noncommon optical paths through each lens, and with careful tracking of sky variations in order to minimize systematic errors that limit the accuracy of background estimation and flat-fielding. The system has no obstructions in the light path, optimized baffling, and internal optical surfaces coated with a new generation of antireflection coatings based on subwavelength nanostructures. As a result, the array’s point-spread function has a factor of ∼10 less scattered light at large radii than well-baffled reflecting telescopes. The Dragonfly Telephoto Array is capable of imaging extended structures to surface brightness levels below μB = 30 mag arcsec-2 in ∼10 h integrations (without binning or foreground star removal). This is considerably deeper than the surface brightness limit of any existing wide-field telescope. At present, no systematic errors limiting the usefulness of much longer integration times have been identified. With longer integrations (50–100 h), foreground star removal, and modest binning, the Dragonfly Telephoto Array is capable of probing structures with surface brightnesses below μB = 32 mag arcsec-2. The detection of structures at these surface brightness levels may hold the key to solving the “missing substructure” and “missing satellite” problems of conventional hierarchical galaxy formation models. The Dragonfly Telephoto Array is therefore executing a fully automated multiyear imaging survey of a complete sample of nearby galaxies in order to undertake the first census of ultrafaint substructures in the nearby universe.

On the formation and physical properties of the intracluster light in hierarchical galaxy formation models

We study the formation of the Intra-Cluster Light (ICL) using a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation, coupled to merger trees extracted from N-body simulations of groups and clusters. We assume that the ICL forms by (1) stellar stripping of satellite galaxies and (2) relaxation processes that take place during galaxy mergers. The fraction of ICL in groups and clusters predicted by our models ranges between 10 and 40 per cent, with a large halo-to-halo scatter and no halo mass dependence. We note, however, that our predicted ICL fractions depend on the resolution: for a set of simulations with particle mass one order of magnitude larger than that adopted in the high resolution runs used in our study, we find that the predicted ICL fractions are ~30-40 per cent larger than those found in the high resolution runs. On cluster scale, large part of the scatter is due to a range of dynamical histories, while on smaller scale it is driven by individual accretion events and stripping of very massive satellites, $M_{*} \gtrsim 10^{10.5} M_{\odot}$, that we find to be the major contributors to the ICL. The ICL in our models forms very late (below $z\sim 1$), and a fraction varying between 5 and 25 per cent of it has been accreted during the hierarchical growth of haloes. In agreement with recent observational measurements, we find the ICL to be made of stars covering a relatively large range of metallicity, with the bulk of them being sub-solar.

EXPECTED NUMBER OF MASSIVE GALAXY RELICS IN THE PRESENT DAY UNIVERSE

The number of present-day massive galaxies that has survived untouched since their formation at high-z is an important observational constraint to the hierarchical galaxy formation models. Using three different semianalytical models based on the Millenium simulation, we quantify the expected fraction and number densities of the massive galaxies form at z>2 which have evolved in stellar mass less than 10% and 30%. We find that only a small fraction of the massive galaxies already form at z~2 have remained almost unaltered since their formation (<2% with Delta_M*/M*<0.1 and <8% with Delta_M*/M*<0.3). These fractions correspond to the following number densities of massive relics in the present-day Universe: ~1.2x10^-6 Mpc^-3 for Delta_M*/M*<0.1 and ~5.7x10^-6 Mpc^-3 for Delta_M*/M*<0.3. The observed number of relic candidates found in the nearby Universe is today pretty uncertain (with uncertainties up to a factor of ~100) preventing to establish a firm conclusion about the goodness of current theoretical expectations to predict such important number.

Isolated galaxies in hierarchical galaxy formation models – present-day properties and environmental histories

In this study, we have carried out a detailed, statistical analysis of isolated model galaxies, taking advantage of publicly available hierarchical galaxy formation models. To select isolated galaxies, we employ 2D methods widely used in the observational literature, as well as a more stringent 3D isolation criterion that uses the full 3D-real space information. In qualitative agreement with observational results, isolated model galaxies have larger fractions of late-type, star forming galaxies with respect to randomly selected samples of galaxies with the same mass distribution. We also find that the samples of isolated model galaxies typically contain a fraction of less than 15 per cent of satellite galaxies, that reside at the outskirts of their parent haloes where the galaxy number density is low. Projection effects cause a contamination of 2D samples of about 18 per cent, while we estimate a typical completeness of 65 per cent. Our model isolated samples also include a very small (few per cent) fraction of bulge dominated galaxies (B/T > 0.8) whose bulges have been built mainly by minor mergers. Our study demonstrates that about 65-70 per cent of 2D isolated galaxies that are classified as isolated at z = 0 have indeed been completely isolated since z = 1 and only 7 per cent have had more than 3 neighbours within a comoving radius of 1 Mpc. Irrespectively of the isolation criteria, roughly 45 per cent of isolated galaxies have experienced at least one merger event in the past (most of the mergers are minor, with mass ratios between 1:4 and 1:10). The latter point validates the approximation that isolated galaxies have been mainly influenced by internal processes.

Variation in the escape fraction of ionizing photons from galaxies and the redshifted 21-cm power spectrum during reionization

The observed power spectrum of redshifted 21cm fluctuations is known to be sensitive to the astrophysical properties of the galaxies that drove reionization. Thus, detailed measurements of the 21cm power spectrum and its evolution could lead to measurements of the properties of early galaxies that are otherwise inaccessible. In this paper, we study the effect of mass and redshift dependent escape fractions of ionizing radiation on the ability of forthcoming experiments to constrain galaxy formation via the redshifted 21cm power spectrum. We use a model for reionization which combines the hierarchical galaxy formation model GALFORM implemented within the Millennium-II dark matter simulation, with a semi-numerical scheme to describe the resulting ionization structure. Using this model we show that the structure and distribution of ionised regions at fixed neutral fraction, and hence the slope and amplitude of the 21 cm power spectrum, is dependent on the variation of ionising photon escape fraction with galaxy mass and redshift. However, we find that the influence of the unknown escape fraction and its evolution is smaller than the dominant astrophysical effect provided by SNe feedback strength in high redshift galaxies. The unknown escape fraction of ionizing radiation from galaxies is therefore unlikely to prevent measurement of the properties of high redshift star formation using observations of the 21cm power spectrum.

An improved prescription for merger time-scales from controlled simulations

Abstract We compare three analytical prescriptions for merger times available from the literature to simulations of isolated mergers. We probe three different redshifts, and several halo concentrations, mass ratios, orbital circularities and orbital energies of the satellite. We find that prescriptions available in the literature significantly underpredict long time-scales for mergers at high redshift. We argue that these results have not been highlighted previously either because the evolution of halo concentration of satellite galaxies has been neglected (in previous isolated merger simulations) or because long merger times and mergers with high initial orbital circularities are under-represented (for prescriptions based on cosmological simulations). Motivated by the evolution of halo concentration at fixed mass, an explicit dependence on redshift added as tmergermod(z) = (1 + z)0.44tmerger to the prescription based on isolated mergers gives a significant improvement in the predicted merger times up to ∼20 tdyn in the redshift range 0 ≤ z ≤ 2. When this modified prescription is used to compute galaxy stellar mass functions, we find that it leads up to a 25 per cent increase in the number of low-mass galaxies surviving at z = 0, and a 10 per cent increase for more massive galaxies. This worsens the known overprediction in the number of low-mass galaxies by hierarchical models of galaxy formation.

EXTRAGALACTIC BACKGROUND LIGHT FROM HIERARCHICAL GALAXY FORMATION: GAMMA-RAY ATTENUATION UP TO THE EPOCH OF COSMIC REIONIZATION AND THE FIRST STARS

We present a new model of the extragalactic background light (EBL) and corresponding gamma-gamma opacity for intergalactic gamma-ray absorption from z = 0 up to z = 10, based on a semi-analytical model of hierarchical galaxy formation that reproduces key observed properties of galaxies at various redshifts. Including the potential contribution from Population III stars and following the cosmic reionization history in a simplified way, the model is also broadly consistent with available data concerning reionization, particularly the Thomson scattering optical depth constraints from WMAP. In comparison with previous EBL studies up to z ~ 3-5, our predicted gamma-gamma opacity is in general agreement for observed gamma-ray energy below 400/(1 + z) GeV, whereas it is a factor of ~ 2 lower above this energy because of a correspondingly lower cosmic star formation rate, even though the observed UV luminosity is well reproduced by virtue of our improved treatment of dust obscuration and direct estimation of star formation rate. The horizon energy at which the gamma-ray opacity is unity does not evolve strongly beyond z ~ 4 and approaches ~ 20 GeV. The contribution of Population III stars is a minor fraction of the EBL at z = 0, and is also difficult to distinguish through gamma-ray absorption in high-z objects, even at the highest levels allowed by the WMAP constraints. Nevertheless, the attenuation due to Population II stars should be observable in high-z gamma-ray sources by telescopes such as Fermi or CTA and provide a valuable probe of the evolving EBL in the rest-frame UV. The detailed results of our model are publicly available in numerical form at the URL http://www.slac.stanford.edu/~yinoue/Download.html.

The structure of reionization in hierarchical galaxy formation models

Understanding the epoch of reionization and the properties of the first galaxies represents an important goal for modern cosmology. The structure of reionization and hence the observed power spectrum of redshifted 21-cm fluctuations are known to be sensitive to the astrophysical properties of the galaxies that drove reionization. Thus, detailed measurements of the 21-cm power spectrum and its evolution could lead to measurements of the properties of early galaxies that are otherwise inaccessible. In this paper, we make predictions for the ionized structure during reionization and the 21-cm power spectrum based on detailed models of galaxy formation. We combine the semi-analytic galform model implemented within the Millennium-II dark matter simulation, with a semi-numerical scheme to describe the resulting ionization structure. Semi-analytic models based on the Millennium-II Simulation follow the properties of galaxies within haloes of mass greater than ∼1.4 × 108 M⊙ at z > 6, corresponding to the faint sources thought to dominate reionization. Using these models we show that the details of supernovae (SNe) and radiative feedback affect the structure and distribution of ionized regions, and hence the slope and amplitude of the 21-cm power spectrum. These results indicate that forthcoming measurements of the 21-cm power spectrum could be used to uncover details of early galaxy formation. We find that the strength of SN feedback is the dominant effect governing the evolution of structure during reionization. In particular, we show SN feedback to be more important than radiative feedback, the presence of which we find does not influence either the total stellar mass or overall ionizing photon budget. Thus, if SN feedback is effective at suppressing star formation in high-redshift galaxies, we find that photoionization feedback does not lead to self-regulation of the reionization process as has been thought.

Size evolution of spheroids in a hierarchical Universe

We present basic predictions of an updated version of the Munich semi-analytic hierarchical galaxy formation model that grows bulges via mergers and disk instabilities. Overall, we find that while spheroids below Ms ~ 10^11 Msun grow their sizes via a mixture of disk instability and mergers, galaxies above it mainly evolve via mergers. Including gas dissipation in major mergers, efficiently shrinks galaxies, especially those with final mass Ms < 10^11 Msun that are the most gas-rich, improving the match with different observables. We find that the predicted scatter in sizes at fixed stellar mass is still larger than the observed one by up to <40%. Spheroids are, on average, more compact at higher redshifts at fixed stellar mass, and at fixed redshift and stellar mass larger galaxies tend to be more starforming. More specifically, while for bulge-dominated galaxies the model envisages a nearly mass-independent decrease in sizes, the predicted size evolution for intermediate-mass galaxies is more complex. The z=2 progenitors of massive galaxies with mass around Ms and B/T>0.7 at z=0, are found to be mostly disc-dominated galaxies with a median B/T ~ 0.3, with only ~20% remaining bulge-dominated. The model also predicts that central spheroids living in more massive haloes tend to have larger sizes at fixed stellar mass. Including host halo mass dependence in computing velocity dispersions, allows the model to properly reproduce the correlations with stellar mass. We also discuss the fundamental plane, the correlations with galaxy age, the structural properties of pseudobulges, and the correlations with central black holes.

Contribution from star-forming galaxies to the cosmic gamma-ray background radiation

The origin of extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGRB) has been discussed for a long time and various sources have been discussed as possible contributors to EGRB, such as active galactic nuclei, star-forming galaxies, galaxy clusters, structure formation, and dark matter annihilation. We present a new theoretical calculation of the contribution to the EGRB from star-forming galaxies based on a state-of-the-art model of hierarchical galaxy formation that is in quantitative agreement with a variety of observations of local galaxies as well as high redshifts. Gamma-ray luminosity and spectrum of galaxies are related to star formation rate, gas mass, and star formation mode (quiescent or starburst) of model galaxies using latest observed data of nearby galaxies. Our standard model predicts ∼ 14% contribution from star-forming galaxies to the total EGRB flux recently reported by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. The predicted number of nearby galaxies detectable by Fermi is consistent with the observation. The sum of the known contributions from AGNs and star-forming galaxies can explain a large part of EGRB, with a remarkable agreement between the predicted model spectrum and observation.

Black holes in pseudobulges: demography and models

There is mounting evidence that a significant fraction of Black Holes (BHs) today live in late-type galaxies, including bulge-less galaxies and those hosting pseudobulges, and are significantly undermassive with respect to the scaling relations followed by their counterpart BHs in classical bulges of similar stellar (or even bulge) mass. Here we discuss the predictions of two state-of-the-art hierarchical galaxy formation models in which BHs grow via mergers and, in one, also via disk instability. Our aim is to understand if the wealth of new data on local BH demography is consistent with standard models. We follow the merger trees of representative subsamples of BHs and compute the fractional contributions of different processes to the final BH mass. We show that the model in which BHs always closely follow the growth of their host bulges, also during late disk instabilities (i.e., bars), produces too narrow a distribution of BHs at fixed stellar mass to account for the numerous low-mass BHs now detected in later-type galaxies. Models with a looser connection between BH growth and bar instability instead predict the existence of a larger number of undermassive BHs, in better agreement with the observations. The scatter in the updated local BH-bulge mass relation (with no restriction on galaxy type) appears to be quite large when including later-type systems, but it can still be managed to be reproduced within current hierarchical models. However, the fuelling of BHs during the late bar-instability mode needs to be better quantified/improved to properly fit the data. We conclude discussing how the possibly large number of BHs in later type galaxies demands for an in-depth revision of the local BH mass function and its modelling.

Size and velocity-dispersion evolution of early-type galaxies in a Λ cold dark matter universe

Early-type galaxies (ETGs) are observed to be more compact at z>2 than in the local Universe. Remarkably, much of this size evolution appears to take place in a short (1.8 Gyr) time span between z=2.2 and z=1.3, which poses a serious challenge to hierarchical galaxy formation models where mergers occurring on a similar timescale are the main mechanism for galaxy growth. We compute the merger-driven redshift evolution of stellar mass Mstar\propto(1+z)^aM, half-mass radius Re\propto(1+z)^aR and velocity-dispersion sigma0\propto(1+z)^asigma predicted by concordance Lambda cold dark matter for a typical massive ETG in the redshift range z=1.3-2.2. Neglecting dissipative processes, and thus maximizing evolution in surface density, we find -1.5<aM<-0.6, -1.9<aR<-0.7 and 0.06<asigma<0.22, under the assumption that the accreted satellites are spheroids. It follows that the predicted z=2.2 progenitors of z=1.3 ETGs are significantly less compact (on average a factor of 2 larger Re at given Mstar) than the quiescent galaxies observed at z>2. Furthermore, we find that the scatter introduced in the size-mass correlation by the predicted merger-driven growth is difficult to reconcile with the tightness of the observed scaling law. We conclude that - barring unknown systematics or selection biases in the current measurements - minor and major mergers with spheroids are not sufficient to explain the observed size growth of ETGs within the standard model.

Massive, red galaxies in a hierarchical universe - II. Clustering of Extremely Red Objects

We present predictions for the clustering of Extremely Red Objects (EROs) in a \Lambda cold dark matter Universe, using a semi-analytical galaxy formation model in combination with a cosmological N-body simulation. EROs are red, massive galaxies observed at 0.7< z < 3, and their numbers and properties have posed a challenge to hierarchical galaxy formation models. We analyse the halo occupation distribution and two-point correlation function of EROs, exploring how these quantities change with apparent magnitude, colour cut and redshift. Our model predicts a halo occupation distribution that is significantly different from that typically assumed. This is due to the inclusion of AGN feedback, which changes the slope and scatter of the luminosity-host halo mass relation above the mass where AGN feedback first becomes important. We predict that, on average, dark matter haloes with masses above 10^{13}h^{-1}Msun host at least one ERO at 1.5 < z < 2.5. Taking into account sample variance in observational estimates, the predicted angular clustering for EROs with either (R-K)>5 or (i-K)>4.5 is in reasonable agreement with current observations.

EXTREMELY METAL-POOR STARS AND A HIERARCHICAL CHEMICAL EVOLUTION MODEL

Early phases of the chemical evolution and formation history of extremely metal poor (EMP) stars are investigated using hierarchical galaxy formation models. We build a merger tree of the Galaxy according to the extended Press-Schechter theory. We follow the chemical evolution along the tree, and compare the model results to the metallicity distribution function (MDF) and abundance ratio distribution of the Milky Way halo. We adopt three different initial mass functions (IMFs). In a previous studies, we argue that typical mass of EMP stars should be high-mass(~10Msun) based on studies of binary origin carbon-rich EMP stars. In this study, we show that only the high-mass IMF can explain a observed small number of EMP stars. For relative element abundances, the high-mass IMF and the Salpeter IMF predict similar distributions. We also investigate dependence on nucleosynthetic yields of supernovae (SNe). The theoretical SN yields by Kobayashi et al.(2006) and Chieffi & Limonge (2004) show reasonable agreement with observations for $\alpha$-elements. Our model predicts significant scatter of element abundances at [Fe/H]<-3. Best fit yields for one zone chemical evolution model by Francois et al.(2004) well reproduces the trend of the typical abundances of EMP stars but our model with their yield predicts much larger scatter of abundances than the observations. The model with hypernovae predicts Zn abundance in agreement with observations but other models predict lower [Zn/Fe]. Ejecta from the hypernovae with large explosion energy is mixed in large mass and decreases scatter of the element abundances.

The spatial distribution of cold gas in hierarchical galaxy formation models

The distribution of cold gas in dark matter haloes is driven by key processes in galaxy formation: gas cooling, galaxy mergers, star formation and reheating of gas by supernovae. We compare the predictions of four different galaxy formation models for the spatial distribution of cold gas. We find that satellite galaxies make little contribution to the abundance or clustering strength of cold gas selected samples, and are far less important than they are in optically selected samples. The halo occupation distribution function of present-day central galaxies with cold gas mass > 10^9 h^-1 Msun is peaked around a halo mass of ~ 10^11 h^-1 Msun, a scale that is set by the AGN suppression of gas cooling. The model predictions for the projected correlation function are in good agreement with measurements from the HI Parkes All-Sky Survey. We compare the effective volume of possible surveys with the Square Kilometre Array with those expected for a redshift survey in the near-infrared. Future redshift surveys using neutral hydrogen emission will be competitive with the most ambitious spectroscopic surveys planned in the near-infrared.

A possible solution to the [α/Fe]-σ problem in early-type galaxies within a hierarchical galaxy formation model

Abstract The most massive elliptical galaxies apparently formed the fastest, because the ratio of α elements (such as oxygen) to iron is the smallest. In fact, iron is mainly produced from type Ia supernovae on a time-scale of ∼0.1–1 Byr, while the α elements come from massive stars on time-scales of a few tens of million years. Reproducing such a α/Fe correlation has long been a severe problem for cosmological theories of galaxy formation, which envisage massive galaxies to assemble gradually from smaller progenitors, and to be characterized by a star formation history too much extended towards late cosmic times. While it has recently become clear that feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) activity plays a role in the late quenching of star formation, and that early star formation history in the galaxy progenitors affect the α/Fe ratio, major mergers alone cannot enhance the star formation in the high-redshift progenitors to the levels required to match the steepness of the observed α/Fe correlation. Here we report that the inclusion of the effects of fly-by ‘harassments’, that trigger lower level starbursts, combined with the AGN quenching of the starburst activity, considerably enhances the capability to account for the observed α/Fe ratio in ellipticals within cosmological galaxy formation models. The critical difference between the earlier work and the present result is the effect of starbursts driven by fly-by encounters that would have been very common amongst the high-redshift progenitors of massive galaxies and which would have boosted star formation in the first 2 Byr after the big bang, combined with quenching of the burst activity within the first 3–4 Gyr.

CONSTRAINING THE MINIMUM MASS OF HIGH-REDSHIFT GALAXIES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE IONIZATION STATE OF THE INTERGALACTIC MEDIUM

We model the latest HST WFPC3/IR observations of > 100 galaxies at redshifts z=7-8 in terms of a hierarchical galaxy formation model with starburst activity. Our model provides a distribution of UV luminosities per dark matter halo of a given mass and a natural explanation for the fraction of halos hosting galaxies. The observed luminosity function is best fit with a minimum halo mass per galaxy of 10^{9.4+0.3-0.9} Msun, corresponding to a virial temperature of 10^{4.9+0.2-0.7} K. Extrapolating to faint, undetected galaxies, the total production rate of ionizing radiation depends critically on this minimum mass. Future measurements with JWST should determine whether the entire galaxy population can comfortably account for the UV background required to keep the intergalactic medium ionized.

CONTRIBUTION FROM STAR-FORMING GALAXIES TO THE COSMIC GAMMA-RAY BACKGROUND RADIATION

We present a new theoretical calculation of the contribution to the extragalactic gamma-ray background radiation (EGRB) from star-forming galaxies, based on a state-of-the-art model of hierarchical galaxy formation that is in quantitative agreement with a variety of observations of local and high-redshift galaxies. Gamma-ray luminosity ($L_\gamma$) and spectrum of galaxies are related to star formation rate ($\psi$), gas mass ($M_gas$), and star formation mode (quiescent or starburst) of model galaxies using latest observed data of nearby galaxies. We try the two limiting cases about gamma-ray production: the escape limit ($L_\gamma \propto \psi M_gas$) and the calorimetric limit ($L_\gamma \propto \psi$), and our standard model predicts 7 and 4% contribution from star-forming galaxies to the total EGRB flux (including bright resolved sources) recently reported by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. Systematic uncertainties do not allow us to determine the EGRB flux better than by a factor of ~2. The predicted number of nearby galaxies detectable by Fermi is consistent with the observation. Intergalactic absorption by pair-production attenuates the EGRB flux only by a modest factor of ~1.3 at the highest Fermi energy band, and the reprocessed cascade emission does not significantly alter EGRB at lower photon energies. The sum of the known contributions from AGNs and star-forming galaxies can explain a large part of EGRB, with a remarkable agreement between the predicted model spectrum and observation.

Magellanic-Cloud Like Satellites are Rare

To investigate hierarchical models of galaxy formation and evolution it is important to have large samples of true satellites, extending to the faintest possible luminosities. We have used Hα narrow-band imaging to search for star-forming satellite galaxies around 143 field spiral galaxies comparable to the Milky Way and found 63 candidate satellites associated with 47 host galaxies. A subset of 12 candidate satellites and their 11 host galaxies were spectroscopically observed to test if the candidates were true satellites and bound to their host. This confirmed that Hα imaging is a reliable method for searching for faint satellites. Within the overall sample of 63 satellites only ~6 could be considered analogous with the LMC and ~14 with the SMC.

Early-type galaxies at large galactocentric radii - II. Metallicity gradients and the [Z/H]-mass, [α/Fe]-mass relations

We present the results of a study of stellar population properties at large galactocentric radii of 14 low-mass early-type galaxies in the Fornax and Virgo clusters. We derive radial profiles of Age, total metallicity [Z/H], and [alpha/Fe] abundance ratios out to 1 - 3 effective radii by using nearly all of the Lick/IDS absorption-line indices in comparison to recent single stellar population models. We extend our study to higher galaxy mass via a novel literature compilation of 37 early-type galaxies, which provides stellar population properties out to one effective radius. We find that metallicity gradients correlate with galactic mass, and the relationship shows a sharp change in slope at a dynamical mass of 3.5 10^10 M_{sun}. The central and mean values of the stellar population parameters (measured in r < r_e/8, and at r = r_e, respectively) define positive mass trends. We suggest that the low metallicities, almost solar [alpha/Fe] ratios and the tight mass-metallicity gradient relation displayed by the low-mass galaxies are indicative of an early star-forming collapse with extended (i.e., > 1 Gyr), low efficiency star formation, and mass-dependent galactic outflows of metal-enriched gas. The flattening of metallicity gradients in high-mass galaxies, and the broad scatter of the relationship are attributed to merger events. The high metallicities and supersolar abundances shown by these galaxies imply a rapid, high efficiency star formation. The observed [Z/H]--mass and [alpha/Fe]--mass relationships can be interpreted as a natural outcome of an early star-forming collapse. However, we find that hierarchical galaxy formation models implementing mass-dependent star formation efficiency, varying IMF, energy feedback via AGN, and the effects due to merger-induced starbursts can also reproduce both our observed relationships.