Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations

Furlong, M.; Bower, R.G.; Theuns, T.; Schaye, J.; Crain, R.A.; Schaller, M.; Dalla Vecchia, C.; Frenk, C.S.; McCarthy, I.G.; Helly, J.; Jenkins, A.; Rosas-Guevara, Y.M.

doi:10.1093/mnras/stv852

Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations

Furlong, M.; Bower, R.G.; Theuns, T.; Schaye, J.; Crain, R.A.; Schaller, M.; Dalla Vecchia, C.; Frenk, C.S.; McCarthy, I.G.; Helly, J.; Jenkins, A.; Rosas-Guevara, Y.M.

Authors

M. Furlong

R.G. Bower

Professor Tom Theuns tom.theuns@durham.ac.uk
Professor

J. Schaye

R.A. Crain

M. Schaller

C. Dalla Vecchia

Professor Carlos Frenk c.s.frenk@durham.ac.uk
Professor

I.G. McCarthy

J. Helly

Professor Adrian Jenkins a.r.jenkins@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Y.M. Rosas-Guevara

Abstract

We investigate the evolution of galaxy masses and star formation rates in the Evolution and Assembly of Galaxies and their Environment (eagle) simulations. These comprise a suite of hydrodynamical simulations in a Λ cold dark matter cosmogony with subgrid models for radiative cooling, star formation, stellar mass-loss and feedback from stars and accreting black holes. The subgrid feedback was calibrated to reproduce the observed present-day galaxy stellar mass function and galaxy sizes. Here, we demonstrate that the simulations reproduce the observed growth of the stellar mass density to within 20 per cent. The simulations also track the observed evolution of the galaxy stellar mass function out to redshift z = 7, with differences comparable to the plausible uncertainties in the interpretation of the data. Just as with observed galaxies, the specific star formation rates of simulated galaxies are bimodal, with distinct star forming and passive sequences. The specific star formation rates of star-forming galaxies are typically 0.2 to 0.5 dex lower than observed, but the evolution of the rates track the observations closely. The unprecedented level of agreement between simulation and data across cosmic time makes eagle a powerful resource to understand the physical processes that govern galaxy formation.

Citation

Furlong, M., Bower, R., Theuns, T., Schaye, J., Crain, R., Schaller, M., …Rosas-Guevara, Y. (2015). Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 450(4), 4486-4504. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv852

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication Date	Jul 11, 2015
Deposit Date	Feb 10, 2016
Publicly Available Date	Feb 16, 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	450
Issue	4
Pages	4486-4504
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv852
Keywords	Galaxies: abundances, Galaxies: evolution, Galaxies: formation, Galaxies: high-redshift, Galaxies: star formation.

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This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2015 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.