Constraints on galaxy formation models from the galaxy stellar mass function and its evolution

Rodrigues, Luiz Felippe S.; Vernon, Ian; Bower, Richard G.

Abstract

We explore the parameter space of the semi-analytic galaxy formation model GALFORM, studying the constraints imposed by measurements of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) and its evolution. We use the Bayesian emulator method to quickly eliminate vast implausible volumes of the parameter space and zoom in on the most interesting regions, allowing us to identify a set of models that match the observational data within model uncertainties. We find that the GSMF strongly constrains parameters related to quiescent star formation in discs, stellar and active galactic nucleus feedback and threshold for disc instabilities, but weakly restricts other parameters. Constraining the model using local data alone does not usually select models that match the evolution of the GSMF well. Nevertheless, we show that a small subset of models provides acceptable match to GSMF data out to redshift 1.5. We explore the physical significance of the parameters of these models, in particular exploring whether the model provides a better description if the mass loading of the galactic winds generated by starbursts (β0,burst) and quiescent discs (β0,disc) is different. Performing a principal component analysis of the plausible volume of the parameter space, we write a set of relations between parameters obeyed by plausible models with respect to GSMF evolution. We find that while β0,disc is strongly constrained by GSMF evolution data, constraints on β0,burst are weak. Although it is possible to find plausible models for which β0,burst = β0,disc, most plausible models have β0,burst > β0,disc, implying – for these – larger stellar feedback efficiency at higher redshifts.

Citation

Rodrigues, L. F. S., Vernon, I., & Bower, R. G. (2017). Constraints on galaxy formation models from the galaxy stellar mass function and its evolution. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 466(2), 2418-2435. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw3269

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 13, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 11, 2017
• Deposit Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2017
• 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: 466
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 2418-2435
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw3269
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1398580
• Related Public URLs: https://eprints.ncl.ac.uk/229511