Galaxy Formation Research Articles

Recent observations of the rotation of distant galaxies and the implication for dark matter

Recent measurements of gas velocity in the outer parts of high redshift galaxies suggest that steeply falling rotation curves may be common or even universal in these galaxies, in contrast to the near universal flat, non-declining rotation curves in nearby galaxies. The aim was to investigate the implications of these postulated steeply falling rotation curves for the role of dark matter in galaxy formation. Using an established computer code, the collapse of dark matter and baryonic matter together, starting with a variety of initial conditions, was simulated for comparison with the observed rotation curves. A simulation of collapsing baryonic matter on its own without dark matter was also carried out. The masses of the protogalaxies were chosen to produce a stellar disc in the same mass range as the observed galaxies at roughly the same redshift. As soon as a smooth stellar disc was formed in the baryonic matter, with properties similar to the observed high redshift galaxies, the computed rotation curves were without exception relatively flat to large radius in the gas disc. Only a simulation without a dark matter halo was able to reproduce the observed rotation curves. This implies that if the high redshift steeply falling rotation curves turn out to be common, then the standard scenario of galaxy formation by baryonic matter falling into the potential well of a massive dark matter halo must be wrong, unless there is pressure support via velocity dispersion significantly higher than has so far been observed or resulted from our simulations. It would also imply that for these galaxies the flat rotation curves at low redshift must be due to dark matter which has subsequently fallen into the galactic potential well, or there must be some other explanation for their contemporary flat rotation curves other than dark matter.

What drives the corpulence of galaxies? I. The formation of central compact dwarf galaxies in TNG50

Nearby dwarf galaxies display a variety of effective radii (sizes) at a given stellar mass, suggesting different evolution scenarios according to their final `stellar' size. The TNG hydrodynamical simulations present a bimodality in the $z=0$ size--mass relation (SMRz0) of dwarf galaxies, at $r_ star 450$ pc. Using the TNG50 simulation, we explored the evolution of the most massive progenitors of dwarf galaxies ($z=0$ lmsun between 8.4 and 9.2) that end up as central galaxies of their groups. We split these dwarfs into three classes of the SMRz0: `` '' from the central spine of the main branch, and `` '' from the secondary branch as well as the lower envelope of the main branch. Both classes of see their stellar sizes decrease from $z onwards in contrast to while the sizes of the gas and dark matter (DM) components continue to increase (as for A detailed analysis reveals that live in poorer environments, and thus suffer fewer major mergers from $z=0.8$ onwards, which otherwise would pump angular momentum into the gas, allowing strong gas inflows, producing inner star formation, and thus leading to the buildup of a stellar core. are predicted to be rounder and to have bluer cores. Compact dwarfs of similar sizes are observed in the GAMA survey, but the bimodality in size is less evident and the most compact dwarfs tend to be passive rather than star forming, as in TNG50. Our conclusions should therefore be confirmed with future cosmological hydrodynamical simulations.

Modelling the galaxy radio continuum from star formation and active galactic nuclei in the Shark semi-analytic model

Abstract We present a model of radio continuum emission associated with star formation (SF) and active galactic nuclei (AGN) implemented in the Shark semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. SF emission includes free-free and synchrotron emission, which depend on the free-electron density and the rate of core-collapse supernovae with a minor contribution from supernova remnants, respectively. AGN emission is modelled based on the jet production rate, which depends on the black hole mass, accretion rate and spin, and includes synchrotron self-absorption. Shark reproduces radio luminosity functions (RLFs) at $1.4\, \rm GHz$ and $150\, \rm MHz$ for 0 ≤ z ≤ 4, and scaling relations between radio luminosity, star formation rate and infrared luminosity of galaxies in the local and distant universe in good agreement with observations. The model also reproduces observed number counts of radio sources from 150 MHz to 8.4 GHz to within a factor of two on average, though larger discrepancies are seen at the very bright fluxes at higher frequencies. We use this model to understand how the radio continuum emission from radio-quiet AGNs can affect the measured RLFs of galaxies. We find current methods to exclude AGNs from observational samples result in large fractions of radio-quiet AGNs contaminating the ‘star-forming galaxies’ selection and a brighter end to the resulting RLFs.We investigate how this effects the infrared-radio correlation (IRRC) and show that AGN contamination can lead to evolution of the IRRC with redshift. Without this contamination our model predicts a redshift- and stellar mass-independent IRRC, except at the dwarf-galaxy regime.

EPOCHS Paper V. The dependence of galaxy formation on galaxy structure at z < 7 from JWST observations

Abstract We measure the broad impact of galaxy structure on galaxy formation by examining the ongoing star formation and integrated star formation history as revealed through the stellar masses of galaxies at z < 7 based on JWST CEERS data from the Extended Groth Strip (EGS). Using the morphological catalog of 3965 visually classified JWST galaxies from Ferreira et al. (2023), we investigate the evolution of stars, and when they form, as a function of morphological type as well as galaxies classified as passive and starburst through spectral energy distributions. Although disk galaxies dominate the structures of galaxies at z < 7, we find that these disks are in general either ‘passive’, or on the main-sequence of star formation, and do not contain a large population of starburst galaxies. We also find no significant correlation between morphological type and the star formation rate or colours of galaxies at z < 7. In fact, we find that the morphologically classified ‘spheroids’ tend to be blue and are not found to be predominately passive systems at z > 1.5. We also find that the stellar mass function for disk galaxies does not evolve significantly during this time, whereas other galaxy types, such as the peculiar population, evolve dramatically, declining at lower redshifts. This indicates that massive peculiars are more common at higher redshifts. We further find that up to z ∼ 7, the specific star formation rate (sSFR) does not vary with visual morphology, but strongly depends on stellar mass and internal galaxy mass density. This demonstrates that at early epochs galaxy assembly is a mass-driven, rather than a morphologically-driven, process. Quenching of star formation is therefore a mass-dominated process throughout the universe’s history, likely due to the presence of supermassive black holes.

HI discs of L* galaxies as probes of the baryonic physics of galaxy evolution

Abstract Understanding what shapes the cold gas component of galaxies, which both provides the fuel for star formation and is strongly affected by the subsequent stellar feedback, is a crucial step towards a better understanding of galaxy evolution. Here, we analyse the HI properties of a sample of 46 Milky Way halo-mass galaxies, drawn from cosmological simulations (EMP-Pathfinder and Firebox). This set of simulations comprises galaxies evolved self-consistently across cosmic time with different baryonic sub-grid physics: three different star formation models [constant star formation efficiency (SFE) with different star formation eligibility criteria, and an environmentally-dependent, turbulence-based SFE] and two different feedback prescriptions, where only one sub-sample includes early stellar feedback. We use these simulations to assess the impact of different baryonic physics on the HI content of galaxies. We find that the galaxy-wide HI properties agree with each other and with observations. However, differences appear for small-scale properties. The thin HI discs observed in the local Universe are only reproduced with a turbulence-dependent SFE and/or early stellar feedback. Furthermore, we find that the morphology of HI discs is particularly sensitive to the different physics models: galaxies simulated with a turbulence-based SFE have discs that are smoother and more rotationally symmetric, compared to those simulated with a constant SFE; galaxies simulated with early stellar feedback have more regular discs than supernova-feedback-only galaxies. We find that the rotational asymmetry of the HI discs depends most strongly on the underlying physics model, making this a promising observable for understanding the physics responsible for shaping the interstellar medium of galaxies.

Molecular gas scaling relations for local star-forming galaxies in the low-M_* regime

We derived molecular gas fractions ($f_ mol =M_ mol /M_*$) and depletion times ($ mol = M_ mol SFR $) for 353 galaxies representative of the local star-forming population with $10^ \,M_ < M_* < \,M_ drawn from the ALLSMOG and xCOLDGASS surveys of CO(2-1) and CO(1-0) line emission. By adding constraints from low-mass galaxies and upper limits for CO non-detections, we find the median molecular gas fraction of the local star-forming population to be constant at $ f_ mol $, challenging previous reports of increased molecular gas fractions in low-mass galaxies. Above $M_* \,M_ we find the $f_ mol $ versus $M_*$ relation to be sensitive to the selection criteria for star-forming galaxies. We tested the robustness of our results against different prescriptions for the CO-to-H$_2$ conversion factor and different selection criteria for star-forming galaxies. The depletion timescale $ mol $ weakly depends on $M_*$, following a power law with a best-fit slope of . This suggests that small variations in specific star formation rate ($ sSFR=SFR /M_*$) across the local main sequence of star-forming galaxies with $M_* < 10^ \,M_ are mainly driven by differences in the efficiency of converting the available molecular gas into stars. We tested these results against a possible dependence of $f_ mol $ and $ mol $ on the surrounding (group) environment of the targets by splitting them into centrals, satellites, and isolated galaxies, and find no significant variation between these populations. We conclude that the group environment is unlikely to have a large systematic effect on the molecular gas content of star-forming galaxies in the local Universe.

DEVILS/MIGHTEE/GAMA/DINGO: The impact of SFR timescales on the SFR-radio luminosity correlation

Abstract The tight relationship between infrared luminosity (LTIR) and 1.4 GHz radio continuum luminosity (L1.4 GHz) has proven useful for understanding star formation free from dust obscuration. Infrared emission in star-forming galaxies typically arises from recently formed, dust-enshrouded stars, whereas radio synchrotron emission is expected from subsequent supernovae. By leveraging the wealth of ancillary far-ultraviolet – far-infrared photometry from the Deep Extragalactic VIsible Legacy Survey (DEVILS) and Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) surveys, combined with 1.4 GHz observations from the MeerKAT International GHz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) survey and Deep Investigation of Neutral Gas Origins (DINGO) projects, we investigate the impact of timescale differences between far-ultraviolet – far-infrared and radio-derived star formation rate (SFR) tracers. We examine how the SED-derived star formation histories (SFH) of galaxies can be used to explain discrepancies in these SFR tracers, which are sensitive to different timescales. Galaxies exhibiting an increasing SFH have systematically higher LTIR and SED-derived SFRs than predicted from their 1.4 GHz radio luminosity. This indicates that insufficient time has passed for subsequent supernovae-driven radio emission to accumulate. We show that backtracking the SFR(t) of galaxies along their SED-derived SFHs to a time several hundred megayears prior to their observed epoch will both linearise the SFR-L1.4 GHz relation and reduce the overall scatter. The minimum scatter in the SFR(t)-L1.4 GHz is reached at 200 – 300 Myr prior, consistent with theoretical predictions for the timescales required to disperse the cosmic ray electrons responsible for the synchrotron emission.

A 600 m2 array of 6.5 m telescopes at the lunar pole.

The proposed lunar telescope for optical and infrared astronomy aims at very large aperture, 600 m2, at a fundable cost. It comprises an array of 18 separate telescopes, each of 6.5 m aperture. The 200 m diameter array will be located within 1/2° (15 km) of a lunar pole on approximately level ground, with a perimeter screen deployed to provide shade and cooling to cryogenic temperature. The 500 m diameter screen will allow unobscured access down to 8° elevation. All 18 telescopes will reflect light into a central beam combiner to form a single image covering wavelengths from 0.4 µm to 10 µm. The initial instrument complement will include high-resolution and multi-object spectrographs to exploit the single combined field of view of two arcminute diameter, with the diffraction limited resolution of 6.5 m aperture. Scientific applications include the search for molecular biosignatures in transiting exoplanets, and the study of galaxy evolution using red-shifted spectra to beyond z = 10. The array cost, including delivery to the Moon by SpaceX Starship for installation using lunar base infrastructure, is around $10 billion, similar to that of the 25 m2 JWST. To test the concept, first a single prototype 6.5 m unit would be operated at the lunar south pole. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)'.

Are early-type galaxies quenched by present-day environment? A study of dwarfs in the Fornax Cluster.

Galaxies undergo numerous transformative processes throughout their lifetimes that ultimately lead to the expulsion of gas and the cessation of star-forming activity. This phenomenon is commonly known as quenching, and in this study, we delve into the possibility that this process is caused by the environmental processes associated with the surrounding cluster. To this end, we used the results of our previous paper ---where we analyzed dwarf galaxies in the survey together with massive galaxies from the survey--- to compute the quenching time of each galaxy and compare it with the infall time into the cluster. Using as an approximation of the quenching time and deriving the infall time from phase-space models, we determined the probability of the quenching being produced by the local environment of galaxies. Our results reveal a relation between galaxy mass and quenching probability. Massive galaxies, down to exhibit a low, almost zero probability of quenching, suggesting their independence of environmental effects. As we move into the mass regime of dwarf galaxies, the probability increases with decreasing mass, highlighting their sensitivity to environmental quenching. For dwarfs, 36pm 9<!PCT!> of our observational data are consistent with this hypothesis, challenging the idea that the present-day cluster, Fornax, is the primary driver of quenching in the low-mass galaxies of our sample with stellar mass from to To further investigate the importance of environmental processes, we compared these results with cosmological simulations, selecting galaxies under similar conditions to our observational sample. Remarkably, the simulated sample shows lower quenching probabilities as we move down in mass, and barely 5pm 1<!PCT!> of galaxies meet the quenching criteria. This discrepancy between observations and simulations underlines the fact that the modelling of quenching is still in its infancy. In general, the number of observed galaxies quenched by their environment is lower than expected, which suggests that preprocessing plays a larger role in galaxy evolution. Ultimately, our results highlight the need for higher-quality simulations and refinement of galaxy formation and evolution models.

Stellar Population Astrophysics (SPA) with the TNG. Measurement of the He I 10830 angstrom line in the open cluster Stock 2

The precise measurement of stellar abundances plays a pivotal role in providing constraints on the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. However, before spectral lines can be employed as reliable abundance indicators, particularly for challenging elements such as helium, they must undergo thorough scrutiny. Galactic open clusters, representing well-defined single stellar populations, offer an ideal setting for unfolding the information stored in the helium spectral line feature. In this study we characterise the profile and strength of the helium transition at around angstrom in nine giant stars in the Galactic open cluster Stock 2. To remove the influence of weak blending lines near the helium feature, we calibrated their oscillator strengths (loggf ) by employing corresponding abundances obtained from simultaneously observed optical spectra. Our observations reveal that the in all the targets is observed in absorption, with line strengths categorised into two groups. Three stars exhibit strong absorption, including a discernible secondary component, while the remaining stars exhibit weaker absorption. The lines are in symmetry and align with or near their rest wavelengths, suggesting a stable upper chromosphere without a significant systematic mass motion. We find a correlation between the strength and the Ca ii logRpHK index, with a slope similar to that reported in previous studies on dwarf stars. This correlation underscores the necessity of accounting for the stellar chromosphere structure when employing as a probe for the stellar helium abundance. The procedure of measuring the we developed in this study is applicable not only to other Galactic open clusters but also to field stars, and we plan to use it to map the helium abundance across various types of stars in the future.

The density of virialized clusters as a probe of dark energy

Abstract We use the spherical collapse model to demonstrate that the observable average density of virialized clusters depends on the properties of dark energy along with the properties of gravity on cluster scales and can therefore be used as a probe of these properties. As an application of this approach we derive the predicted virialized densities and radii of cluster mass structures for a wide range of values of the cosmological constant (including negative values) as a function of the turnaround redshift. For the value of ΩΛ, 0 = −0.7 (with Ωm, 0 = 0.3), we find an amplification of the density of virialized clusters which can be as large as 80% compared to Planck18/ΛCDM for a turnaround redshift zmax ≳ 2. Such an amplification may lead to more efficient early galaxy formation in this class of models, in accordance with the recent findings of JWST, which may be partially pertinent to the Λ sign-switching models (ΛsCDM), which have been suggested as potential solutions to the observed Hubble and S8 discrepancies.

Exploring bar fractions: a comparative study of galaxy pairs and single galaxies

We present a comprehensive analysis of barred galaxies within two distinct samples: isolated single galaxies (SIG) and isolated galaxy pairs (SIP), drawn from the SDSS-based catalog of isolated galaxies and the catalog of isolated galaxy pair limited to M ≤ −18.5, respectively. Our primary aim is to investigate the influence of tidal effects on the bar fraction (f bar ) across various galaxy systems. Barred galaxies are identified through automated ellipse fitting analysis supplemented by visual inspection of r-band imaging. A strong correlation between f bar and both galaxy morphological type and star formation rate has been revealed. Although, barred galaxies represent a nearly equal percentage of 52% in SIG and 51% in SIP, we found a little evidence for the tidal dependence of bar formation where a notable increase in the f bar is observed among galaxies characterized by larger projected separation and higher radial velocity difference between the pair members. In SIGs, we observe a prevalent increasing trend of f bar with galaxy mass, contrasting the observed decrease in f bar with increasing galaxy mass in SIPs. This discrepancy is consistent with typical trends of weaker bars, suggesting that tidal effect may attenuate the strength of bar structures within galaxy pairs.

The Merian survey: design, construction, and characterization of a filter set optimized to find dwarf galaxies and measure their dark matter halo properties with weak lensing

ABSTRACT The Merian survey is mapping ∼ 850 deg2 of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program (HSC-SSP) wide layer with two medium-band filters on the 4-m Victor M. Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, with the goal of carrying the first high signal-to-noise (S/N) measurements of weak gravitational lensing around dwarf galaxies. This paper presents the design of the Merian filter set: N708 (λc = 7080 Å, Δλ = 275 Å) and N540 (λc = 5400 Å, Δλ = 210 Å). The central wavelengths and filter widths of N708 and N540 were designed to detect the $\rm H\alpha$ and $\rm [OIII]$ emission lines of galaxies in the mass range $8\lt \rm \log M_*/M_\odot \lt 9$ by comparing Merian fluxes with HSC broad-band fluxes. Our filter design takes into account the weak lensing S/N and photometric redshift performance. Our simulations predict that Merian will yield a sample of ∼ 85 000 star-forming dwarf galaxies with a photometric redshift accuracy of σΔz/(1 + z) ∼ 0.01 and an outlier fraction of $\eta =2.8~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ over the redshift range 0.058 < z < 0.10. With 60 full nights on the Blanco/Dark Energy Camera (DECam), the Merian survey is predicted to measure the average weak lensing profile around dwarf galaxies with lensing S/N ∼32 within r < 0.5 Mpc and lensing S/N ∼90 within r < 1.0 Mpc. This unprecedented sample of star-forming dwarf galaxies will allow for studies of the interplay between dark matter and stellar feedback and their roles in the evolution of dwarf galaxies.

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey: The nature of the faint source population and SFR-radio luminosity relation using Prospector

Abstract Spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting has been extensively used to determine the nature of the faint radio source population. Recent efforts have combined fits from multiple SED-fitting codes to account for the host galaxy and any active nucleus that may be present. We show that it is possible to produce similar-quality classifications using a single energy-balance SED fitting code, Prospector, to model up to 26 bands of UV–far-infrared aperture-matched photometry for ∼31,000 sources in the ELAIS-N1 field from the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Deep fields first data release. One of a new generation of SED-fitting codes, Prospector accounts for potential contributions from radiative active galactic nuclei (AGN) when estimating galaxy properties, including star formation rates (SFRs) derived using non-parametric star formation histories. Combining this information with radio luminosities, we classify 92 per cent of the radio sources as a star-forming galaxy, high-/low-excitation radio galaxy, or radio-quiet AGN and study the population demographics as a function of 150 MHz flux density, luminosity, SFR, stellar mass, redshift and apparent r-band magnitude. Finally, we use Prospector SED fits to investigate the SFR–150 MHz luminosity relation for a sample of ∼133,000 3.6 μm-selected z < 1 sources, finding that the stellar mass dependence is significantly weaker than previously reported, and may disappear altogether at log10(SFR/M⊙ yr−1) > 0.5. This approach makes it significantly easier to classify radio sources from LoTSS and elsewhere, and may have important implications for future studies of star-forming galaxies at radio wavelengths.

Radio properties of green pea galaxies

Green peas (GPs) are young, compact, star-forming dwarf galaxies, and local (\(z analogues of the early galaxies (\(z 6\)) considered to be mainly responsible for the reionisation of the Universe. Recent X-ray observations of GPs led to the detection of high excess emission, which cannot be accounted for by star formation alone and implies the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We employ radio observations to study the radio properties of GPs, build their radio spectral energy distributions, and verify the presence of AGNs. We performed new radio observations of three GPs with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) in the L, C, and X bands (1.4, 6 and 10 GHz resp.) and analysed them alongside data from archival observations and large radio surveys. We also analysed the archival radio data for a larger sample of GPs and blueberry (BBs) galaxies, which are lower-mass and lower-redshift analogues of the GPs. To understand the significance of the radio observations, we assess the detectability of these sources, and compare the detected radio luminosities with expectations from theoretical and empirical relations. Two of the three targeted GPs are strongly detected (\(>10 in the JVLA observations and their fluxes are consistent with star formation, while the third source is undetected. Although archival radio surveys have the sensitivity to detect a large fraction (\( 75<!PCT!>\)) of the sources from the larger archival sample of GPs and BBs we only detect a small number (\(< 40<!PCT!>\)) of them and their radio luminosity is significantly lower than the expectation from empirical relations. Our results show that the majority of the dwarf galax ies in our sample are highly underluminous. The radio luminosity star formation rate (SFR) relation deviates from the empirical relations, especially towards the lower end of galaxy mass and SFR, suggesting that the relations established for larger galaxies may not hold towards the low-mass end.

Three-dimensional stellar orbits due to off-centered dark matter halo at the center of the disc galaxies

Stellar orbits and the evolution of galaxies are intertwined processes that have long-term implications on each other. This paper studies how stellar orbits at the galaxy’s central region are disturbed by an asymmetric dark matter halo potential. Evidence from the observations and simulations in the Milky Way type galaxy suggests that the center of the dark matter halo could be off-centered by a few parsecs concerning the center of the core. The equations of motion of stars in the core of galaxies are expressed in terms of three-dimensional perturbed potential arising from the offset halo. The central region’s azimuthal variation in the effective potential is obtained and the first-order epicyclic theory is used to solve for the orbits. The magnitude of this perturbation potential grows at small radii and exhibits m=1 azimuthal fluctuations. In the central region, within 3 kpc radius, even a small halo offset of 300 pc can cause a surprisingly strong spatial and kinematical lopsidedness. A planar orbit, initially assumed to be in disc plane, tends to leave the plane giving rise to non-planar configuration. Furthermore, as long as the halo offset persists, the central region will stay lopsided. The dark matter halo would significantly impact the dynamic development of this region and could help fuel the active galactic nucleus.

The separate effect of halo mass and stellar mass on the evolution of massive disc galaxies

ABSTRACT We analyse a sample of massive disc galaxies selected from the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory survey to investigate how the evolution of these galaxies depends on their stellar and halo masses. We applied a semi-analytic spectral fitting approach to the data from different regions in the galaxies to derive several of their key physical properties. From the best-fitting model results, together with direct observables such as morphology, colour, and the Mgb/〈Fe〉 index ratio measured within 1Re, we find that for central galaxies both their stellar and halo masses have a significant influence in their evolution. For a given halo mass, galaxies with higher stellar mass accumulate their stellar mass and become chemically enriched earlier than those with smaller stellar mass. Furthermore, at a given stellar mass, galaxies living in more massive haloes have longer star formation time-scales and are delayed in becoming chemically enriched. In contrast, the evolution of massive satellite galaxies is mostly determined by their stellar mass. The results indicate that both the assembled halo mass and the halo assembly history impact the evolution of central galaxies. Our spatially resolved analysis indicates that only the galaxy properties in the central region (0.0–0.5Re) show the dependencies described above. This fact supports a halo-driven formation scenario since the galaxies’ central regions are more likely to contain old stars formed along with the halo itself, keeping a memory of the halo formation process.

Repainting the colour-mass diagrams by unearthing the green mountain: dust-rich S0 galaxies in the colour-(galaxy stellar mass) diagram, and the colour-(black hole mass) relations for dust-poor versus dust-rich galaxies

Abstract Lenticular galaxies are notoriously misclassified as elliptical galaxies and, as such, a (disc inclination)-dependent correction for dust is often not applied to the magnitudes of dusty lenticular galaxies. This results in overly red galaxy colours, impacting their distribution in the colour-magnitude diagram. It is revealed how this has led to an underpopulation of the ‘green valley’ by hiding a ‘green mountain’ of massive dust-rich lenticular galaxies—known to be built from gas-rich major mergers—within the ‘red sequence’ of colour-(stellar mass) diagrams. Correcting for dust, a ‘green mountain’ appears at M*, gal ∼ 1011 M⊙, along with signs of an extension to lower masses producing a ‘green range’ or ‘green ridge’ on the green side of the ‘red sequence’ and ‘blue cloud.’ The ‘red sequence’ is shown to be comprised of two components: a red plateau defined by elliptical galaxies with a near-constant colour and by lower-mass dust-poor lenticular galaxies, which are mostly a primordial population but may include faded/transformed spiral galaxies. The presence of the quasi-triangular-shaped galaxy evolution sequence, previously called the ‘Triangal’, is revealed in the galaxy colour-(stellar mass) diagram. It tracks the speciation of galaxies and their associated migration through the diagram. The connection of the ‘Triangal’ to previous galaxy morphology sequences (Fork, Trident, Comb) is also shown herein. Finally, the colour-(black hole mass) diagram is revisited, revealing how the dust correction generates a blue-green sequence for the spiral and dust-rich lenticular galaxies that is offset from a green-red sequence defined by the dust-poor lenticular and elliptical galaxies.

Characterizing ultra-high-redshift dark matter halo demographics and assembly histories with the gureft simulations

ABSTRACT Dark matter halo demographics and assembly histories are a manifestation of cosmological structure formation and have profound implications for the formation and evolution of galaxies. In particular, merger trees provide fundamental input for several modelling techniques, such as semi-analytic models (SAMs), sub-halo abundance matching (SHAM), and decorated halo occupation distribution models. Motivated by the new ultra-high-redshift (z ≳ 10) frontier enabled by JWST, we present a new suite of Gadget at Ultrahigh Redshift with Extra-Fine Timesteps (gureft) dark matter-only cosmological simulations that are carefully designed to capture halo merger histories and structural properties in the ultra-z universe. The simulation suite consists of four 10243-particle simulations with box sizes of 5, 15, 35, and 90 Mpc h−1, each with 170 snapshots stored between 40 ≥ z ≥ 6. With the unprecedented number of available snapshots and strategically chosen dynamic range covered by these boxes, gureft uncovers the emerging dark matter halo populations and their assembly histories in the earliest epochs of cosmic history. In this work, we present the halo mass functions (HMF) between z ∼ 20 and 6 down to log (Mvir/M⊙) ∼ 5, and show that at high redshift, these robust HMFs can differ substantially from commonly used analytic approximations or older fitting functions in the literature. We also present key physical properties of the ultra-high z halo population, such as concentration and spin, as well as their mass growth and merger rates, and again provide updated fitting functions.

Quenching massive galaxies across cosmic time with the semi-analytic model Shark v2.0

Abstract We introduce version 2.0 of the Shark semi-analytic model of galaxy formation after many improvements to the physics included. The most significant being: (i) a model describing the exchange of angular momentum (AM) between the interstellar medium and stars; (ii) a new active galactic nuclei feedback model which has two modes, a wind and a jet mode, with the jet mode tied to the jet energy production; (iii) a model tracking the development of black hole (BH) spins; (iv) more sophisticated modelling of environmental effects on satellite galaxies; and (v) automatic parameter exploration using Particle Swarm Optimisation. We focus on two timely research topics: the structural properties of galaxies and the quenching of massive galaxies. For the former, Shark v2.0 is capable of producing a more realistic stellar size-mass relation with a plateau marking the transition from disk- to bulge-dominated galaxies, and scaling relations between specific AM and mass that agree well with observations. For the quenching of massive galaxies, Shark v2.0 produces massive galaxies that are more quenched than the previous version, reproducing well the observed relations between star formation rate (SFR) and stellar mass, and specific SFR and BH mass at z = 0. Shark v2.0 produces a number density of massive-quiescent galaxies >1 dex higher than the previous version, in good agreement with JWST observations at z ≤ 5; predicts a stellar mass function of passive galaxies in reasonably good agreement with observations at 0.5 < z < 5; and environmental quenching to already be effective at z = 5.