Low-mass Central Galaxies Research Articles

Dissect two-halo galactic conformity effect for central galaxies: the dependence of star formation activities on the large-scale environment

ABSTRACT We investigate the two-halo galactic conformity effect for central galaxies, which is the spatial correlation of the star formation activities for central galaxies to several Mpcs, by studying the dependence of the star formation activities of central galaxies on their large-scale structure in our local Universe using the SDSS data. Here we adopt a novel environment metric using only central galaxies quantified by the distance to the nth nearest central galaxy. This metric measures the environment within an aperture from ∼1 to ≳ 10 Mpc, with a median value of ∼4 Mpc. We found that two kinds of conformity effects in our local Universe. The first one is that low-mass central galaxies are more quenched in high-density regions, and we found that this effect mainly comes from low-mass centrals that are close to a more massive halo. A similar trend is also found in the IllustrisTNG simulation, which can be entirely explained by backsplash galaxies. The second conformity effect is that massive central galaxies in low-density regions are more star-forming. This population of galaxies also possesses a higher fraction of spiral morphology and lower central stellar velocity dispersion, suggesting that their low quiescent fraction is due to less-frequent major merger events experienced in the low-density regions and, as a consequence, less-massive bulges and central black holes.

On the environmental influence of groups and clusters of galaxies beyond the virial radius: Galactic conformity at few Mpc scales

ABSTRACT The environment within dark matter haloes can quench the star formation of galaxies. However, environmental effects beyond the virial radius of haloes (≳1 Mpc) are less evident. An example is the debated correlation between colour or star formation in central galaxies and neighbour galaxies in adjacent haloes at large separations of several Mpc, referred to as two-halo galactic conformity. We use two galaxy catalogues generated from different versions of the semi-analytic model sag applied to the mdpl2 cosmological simulation and the IllustrisTNG300 cosmological hydrodynamical simulation to study the two-halo conformity by measuring the quenched fraction of neighbouring galaxies as a function of the real-space distance from central galaxies. We find that low-mass central galaxies in the vicinity of massive systems (M200c ≥ 1013$h^{-1}~\rm M_{\odot }$) out to 5 $h^{-1}~\rm Mpc$ are preferentially quenched compared to other central galaxies at fixed stellar mass M⋆ or fixed host halo mass M200c at z ∼ 0. In all the galaxy catalogues is consistent that the low-mass (M⋆ < 1010$h^{-1}~\rm M_{\odot }$ or M200c < 1011.8$h^{-1}~\rm M_{\odot }$) central galaxies in the vicinity of clusters and, especially, groups of galaxies mostly produce the two-halo galactic conformity. On average, the quenched low-mass central galaxies are much closer to massive haloes than star-forming central galaxies of the same mass (by a factor of ∼ 5). Our results agree with other works regarding the environmental influence of massive haloes that can extend beyond the virial radius and affect nearby low-mass central galaxies.

The galaxy–halo size relation of low-mass galaxies in FIRE

ABSTRACT Galaxy sizes correlate closely with the sizes of their parent dark matter haloes, suggesting a link between halo formation and galaxy growth. However, the precise nature of this relation and its scatter remains to be understood fully, especially for low-mass galaxies. We analyse the galaxy–halo size relation (GHSR) for low-mass ($M_\star \sim 10^{7-9}\, {\rm M}_\odot$) central galaxies over the past 12.5 billion years with the help of cosmological volume simulations (FIREbox) from the Feedback in Realistic Environments (FIRE) project. We find a nearly linear relationship between the half-stellar mass galaxy size R1/2 and the parent dark matter halo virial radius Rvir. This relation evolves only weakly since redshift z = 5: $R_{1/2}\, [{\rm kpc}] = (0.053\pm 0.002)(R_{\rm vir}/35\, {\rm kpc})^{0.934\pm 0.054}$, with a nearly constant scatter $\langle \sigma \rangle = 0.084\, [{\rm dex}]$. While this ratio is similar to what is expected from models where galaxy disc sizes are set by halo angular momentum, the low-mass galaxies in our sample are not angular momentum supported, with stellar rotational to circular velocity ratios vrot/vcirc ∼ 0.15. Introducing redshift as another parameter to the GHSR does not decrease the scatter. Furthermore, this scatter does not correlate with any of the halo properties we investigate – including spin and concentration – suggesting that baryonic processes and feedback physics are instead critical in setting the scatter in the GHSR. Given the relatively small scatter and the weak dependence of the GHSR on redshift and halo properties for these low-mass central galaxies, we propose using galaxy sizes as an independent method from stellar masses to infer halo masses.

Quenched fractions in the IllustrisTNG simulations: the roles of AGN feedback, environment, and pre-processing

ABSTRACT We use the IllustrisTNG hydrodynamical simulations to show how the fractions of quenched galaxies vary across different environments and cosmic time, and to quantify the role AGN feedback and pre-processing play in quenching group and cluster satellites. At z = 0, we select galaxies with Mstars = 109−12 M⊙ residing within (≤R200c) massive groups and clusters of total host mass M200c = 1013−15.2 M⊙ in TNG100 and TNG300. The model predicts a quenched fraction of ∼70–90 per cent (on average) for centrals and satellites of mass ≳ 1010.5 M⊙, regardless of host mass, cosmic time (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.5), cluster-centric distance, and time since infall in the z = 0 host. Low-mass central galaxies (≲ 1010 M⊙), on the other hand, are rarely quenched unless they become members of groups (1013–14 M⊙) or clusters (≥1014 M⊙), where the quenched fraction rises to ∼ 80 per cent. Typically, the fraction of low-mass passive galaxies is higher closer to the host centre and for progressively more massive hosts. The population of low-mass satellites accreted more than ∼ 4–6 Gyr ago in massive hosts is almost entirely passive, thus suggesting an upper limit for the time needed for environmental quenching to occur. In fact, about 30 per cent of group and cluster satellites that are quenched at z = 0 were already quenched before falling into their current host, and the bulk of them quenched as early as 4–10 billion years ago. For low-mass galaxies (Mstars ≲ 1010–10.5 M⊙), this is due to pre-processing, whereby current satellites may have been members of other hosts, and hence have undergone environmental processes, before falling into their final host, this mechanism being more common and more effective for the purposes of quenching for satellites found today in more massive hosts. On the other hand, massive galaxies quench on their own and because of AGN feedback, regardless of whether they are centrals or satellites.

Large-scale correlations in gas traced by Mg ii absorbers around low-mass galaxies

Abstract The physical origin of the large-scale conformity in the colours and specific star formation rates of isolated low-mass central galaxies and their neighbours on scales in excess of 1 Mpc is still under debate. One possible scenario is that gas is heated over large scales by feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs), leading to coherent modulation of cooling and star formation between well-separated galaxies. In this Letter, the metal line absorption catalogue of Zhu & Ménard is used to probe gas out to large projected radii around a sample of a million galaxies with stellar masses ∼1010M⊙ and photometric redshifts in the range 0.4 < z < 0.8 selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey imaging data. This galaxy sample covers an effective volume of 2.2 Gpc3. A statistically significant excess of Mg ii absorbers is present around the red-low-mass galaxies compared to their blue counterparts out to projected radii of 10 Mpc. In addition, the equivalent width distribution function of Mg ii absorbers around low-mass galaxies is shown to be strongly affected by the presence of a nearby (Rp < 2 Mpc) radio-loud AGNs out to projected radii of 5 Mpc.

Halo histories versus Galaxy properties at z = 0 – I. The quenching of star formation

We test whether halo age and galaxy age are correlated at fixed halo and galaxy mass. The formation histories, and thus ages, of dark matter halos correlate with their large-scale density $\rho$, an effect known as assembly bias. We test whether this correlation extends to galaxies by measuring the dependence of galaxy stellar age on $\rho$. To clarify the comparison between theory and observation, and to remove the strong environmental effects on satellites, we use galaxy group catalogs to identify central galaxies and measure their quenched fraction, $f_Q$, as a function of large-scale environment. Models that match halo age to central galaxy age predict a strong positive correlation between $f_Q$ and $\rho$. However, we show that the amplitude of this effect depends on the definition of halo age: assembly bias is significantly reduced when removing the effects of splashback halos---those halos that are central but have passed through a larger halo or experienced strong tidal encounters. Defining age using halo mass at its peak value rather than current mass removes these effects. In SDSS data, at M$_{\rm gal}\gtrsim 10^{10.0}$ M_sol/h$^2$, there is a $\sim 5\%$ increase in $f_Q$ from low to high densities, which is in agreement with predictions of dark matter halos using peak halo mass. At lower stellar mass there is little to no correlation of $f_Q$ with $\rho$. For these galaxies, age-matching is inconsistent with the data across the wide range the halo formation metrics that we tested. This implies that halo formation history has a small but statistically significant impact on quenching of star formation at high masses, while the quenching process in low-mass central galaxies is uncorrelated with halo formation history.

Resolving the problem of galaxy clustering on small scales: any new physics needed?

Galaxy clustering sets strong constraints on the physics governing galaxy formation and evolution. However, most current models fail to reproduce the clustering of low-mass galaxies on small scales ($r<1Mpc/h$). In this paper we study the galaxy clusterings predicted from a few semi-analytical models. We firstly compare two Munich versions, Guo et al. (2011, Guo11) and De Lucia \& Blazoit (2007, DLB07). The Guo11 model well reproduces the galaxy stellar mass function, but over-predicts the clustering of low-mass galaxies on small scales. The DLB07 model provides a better fit to the clustering on small scales, but over-predicts the stellar mass function. These seem to be puzzling. We find that there is slightly more fraction of satellite galaxies residing in massive haloes in the Guo11 model, which is the dominant contribution to the clustering discrepancy between the two models. However, both models still over-predict the clustering at $0.1Mpc/h<r<10Mpc/h$ for low mass galaxies. This is because both models over-predict the number of satellites by $30\%$ in massive halos than the data. Actually, the better agreement of DLB07 model with the data on small scales comes as a coincidence as it predicts too many low-mass central galaxies which are less clustered and thus bring down the total clustering. Finally, we show the predictions from the semi-analytical of Kang et al. (2012). We find that this model can simultaneously fit the stellar mass function and galaxy clustering if the supernova feedback in satellite galaxies is stronger. We conclude that semi-analytical models are now able to solve the small-scales clustering problem, without invoking of any other new physics or changing the dark matter properties, such as the recent favored warm dark matter.

EVOLUTION OF THE STELLAR-TO-DARK MATTER RELATION: SEPARATING STAR-FORMING AND PASSIVE GALAXIES FROMz= 1 TO 0

We use measurements of the stellar mass function, galaxy clustering, and galaxy-galaxy lensing within the COSMOS survey to constrain the stellar-to-halo mass relation (SHMR) of star forming and quiescent galaxies over the redshift range z=[0.2,1.0]. For massive galaxies, M*>~10^10.6 Msol, our results indicate that star-forming galaxies grow proportionately as fast as their dark matter halos while quiescent galaxies are outpaced by dark matter growth. At lower masses, there is minimal difference in the SHMRs, implying that the majority low-mass quiescent galaxies have only recently been quenched of their star formation. Our analysis also affords a breakdown of all COSMOS galaxies into the relative numbers of central and satellite galaxies for both populations. At z=1, satellite galaxies dominate the red sequence below the knee in the stellar mass function. But the number of quiescent satellites exhibits minimal redshift evolution; all evolution in the red sequence is due to low-mass central galaxies being quenched of their star formation. At M*~10^10 Msol, the fraction of central galaxies on the red sequence increases by a factor of ten over our redshift baseline, while the fraction of quenched satellite galaxies at that mass is constant with redshift. We define a "migration rate" to the red sequence as the time derivative of the passive galaxy abundances. We find that the migration rate of central galaxies to the red sequence increases by nearly an order of magnitude from z=1 to z=0. These results imply that the efficiency of quenching star formation for centrals is increasing with cosmic time, while the mechanisms that quench the star formation of satellite galaxies in groups and clusters is losing efficiency.

Detection of galaxy assembly bias

Assembly bias describes the finding that the clustering of dark matter haloes depends on halo formation time at fixed halo mass. In this paper, we analyse the influence of assembly bias on galaxy clustering using both semi-analytical models (SAMs) and observational data. At fixed stellar mass, SAMs predict that the clustering of {\it central} galaxies depends on the specific star formation rate (sSFR), with more passive galaxies having a higher clustering amplitude. We find similar trends using SDSS group catalogues, and verify that these are not affected by possible biases due to the group finding algorithm. Low mass central galaxies reside in narrow bins of halo mass, so the observed trends of higher clustering amplitude for galaxies with lower sSFR is not driven by variations of the parent halo mass. We argue that the clustering dependence on sSFR represent a direct detection of assembly bias. In addition, contrary to what expected based on clustering of dark matter haloes, we find that low-mass central galaxies in SAMs with larger host halo mass have a {\it lower} clustering amplitude than their counter-parts residing in lower mass haloes. This results from the fact that, at fixed stellar mass, assembly bias has a stronger influence on clustering than the dependence on the parent halo mass.

A re-examination of galactic conformity and a comparison with semi-analytic models of galaxy formation

The observed correlation between star formation in central galaxies and in their neighbours (a phenomenon dubbed ‘galactic conformity’) is in need of a convincing physical explanation. To gain further insight, we use a volume-limited sample of galaxies with redshifts less than 0.03 drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 to investigate the scale dependence of the effect and how it changes as a function of the mass of the central galaxy. Conformity extends over a central galaxy stellar mass range spanning two orders of magnitude. The scale dependence and the precise nature of the effect depend on the mass of the central. In central galaxies with masses less than 1010 M⊙, conformity extends out to scales in excess of 4 Mpc, well beyond the virial radii of their dark matter haloes. For low-mass central galaxies, conformity with neighbours on very large scales is only seen when they have low star formation rate or gas content. In contrast, at high stellar masses, conformity with neighbours applies in the gas-rich regime and is clearly confined to scales comparable to the virial radius of the dark matter halo of the central galaxy. Our analysis of a mock catalogue from the Guo et al. semi-analytic models shows that conformity-like effects arise because gas-poor satellite galaxies are sometimes misclassified as centrals. However, the effects in the models are much weaker than observed. Misclassification only influences the low-end tail of the SFR/M* distribution of neighbouring galaxies at large distances from the primary. The median and the upper percentiles of the SFR/M* distribution remain almost unchanged, which is in contradiction with the data. We speculate that the conformity between low-mass, gas-poor central galaxies and their distant neighbours may be a signature of ‘pre-heating’ of the intergalactic gas at an earlier epoch. The smaller scale conformity between high-mass, gas-rich central galaxies and their close neighbours may be a signature of ongoing gas accretion on to central galaxies in a minority of massive dark matter haloes.

Radio-loud active galactic nuclei and theLX-σ relation of galaxy groups and clusters

We use the ROSAT All-Sky Survey to study the X-ray properties of a sample of 625 groups and clusters of galaxies selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We stack clusters with similar velocity dispersions and investigate whether their average X-ray luminosities and surface brightness profiles vary with the radio activity level of their central galaxies. We find that at a given value of σ , clusters with a central radio active galactic nucleus (AGN) have more concentrated X-ray surface brightness profiles, larger central galaxy masses and higher X-ray luminosities than clusters with radio-quiet central galaxies. The enhancement in X-ray luminosity is more than a factor of 2, is detected with better than 6σ significance and cannot be explained by X-ray emission from the radio AGN itself. This difference is largely due to a subpopulation of radio-quiet, high velocity dispersion clusters with low-mass central galaxies. These clusters are underluminous at X-ray wavelengths when compared to otherwise similar clusters where the central galaxy is radio-loud, more massive, or both.