A unified multiwavelength model of galaxy formation

Lacey, Cedric G.; Baugh, Carlton M.; Frenk, Carlos S.; Benson, Andrew J.; Bower, Richard G.; Cole, Shaun; Gonzalez-Perez, Violeta; Helly, John C.; Lagos, Claudia D.P.; Mitchell, Peter D.

Abstract

We present a new version of the GALFORM semi-analytical model of galaxy formation. This brings together several previous developments of GALFORM into a single unified model, including a different initial mass function (IMF) in quiescent star formation and in starbursts, feedback from active galactic nuclei supressing gas cooling in massive halos, and a new empirical star formation law in galaxy disks based on their molecular gas content. In addition, we have updated the cosmology, introduced a more accurate treatment of dynamical friction acting on satellite galaxies, and updated the stellar population model. The new model is able to simultaneously explain both the observed evolution of the K-band luminosity function and stellar mass function, and the number counts and redshift distribution of sub-mm galaxies selected at 850μm. This was not previously achieved by a single physical model within the ΛCDM framework, but requires having an IMF in starbursts that is somewhat top-heavy. The new model is tested against a wide variety of observational data covering wavelengths from the far-UV to sub-mm, and redshifts from z = 0 to z = 6, and is found to be generally successful. These observations include the optical and near-IR luminosity functions, HI mass function, fraction of early type galaxies, Tully-Fisher, metallicity-luminosity and size-luminosity relations at z = 0, as well as far-IR number counts, and far-UV luminosity functions at z ∼ 3 − 6. Discrepancies are however found in galaxy sizes and metallicities at low luminosities, and in the abundance of low mass galaxies at high-z, suggesting the need for a more sophisticated model of supernova feedback.

Citation

Lacey, C. G., Baugh, C. M., Frenk, C. S., Benson, A. J., Bower, R. G., Cole, S., …Mitchell, P. D. (2016). A unified multiwavelength model of galaxy formation. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 462(4), 3854-3911. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw1888

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 11, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2016
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Print ISSN: 0035-8711
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2966
• Publisher: Royal Astronomical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 462
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 3854-3911
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw1888
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1377923