The degeneracy between star-formation parameters in dwarf galaxy simulations and the Mstar-Mhalo relation

We present results based on a set of N-Body/SPH simulations of isolated dwarf galaxies. The simulations take into account star formation, stellar feedback, radiative cooling and metal enrichment. The dark matter halo initially has a cusped profile, but, at least in these simulations, starting from idealised, spherically symmetric initial conditions, a natural conversion to a core is observed due to gas dynamics and stellar feedback. A degeneracy between the efficiency with which the interstellar medium absorbs energy feedback from supernovae and stellar winds on the one hand, and the density threshold for star formation on the other, is found. We performed a parameter survey to determine, with the aid of the observed kinematic and photometric scaling relations, which combinations of these two parameters produce simulated galaxies that are in agreement with the observations. With the implemented physics we are unable to reproduce the relation between the stellar mass and the halo mass as determined by Guo et al. (2010), however we do reproduce the slope of this relation.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS | 12 pages, 8 figure

Simulations of the formation and evolution of isolated dwarf galaxies - II. Angular momentum as a second parameter

We show results based on a large suite of N-Body/SPH simulations of isolated, flat dwarf galaxies, both rotating and non-rotating. The main goal is to investigate possible mechanisms to explain the observed dichotomy in radial stellar metallicity profiles of dwarf galaxies: dwarf irregulars (dIrr) and flat, rotating dwarf ellipticals (dE) generally possess flat metallicity profiles, while rounder and non-rotating dEs show strong negative metallicity gradients. These simulations show that flattening by rotation is key to reproducing the observed characteristics of flat dwarf galaxies, proving particularly efficient in erasing metallicity gradients. We propose a "centrifugal barrier mechanism" as an alternative to the previously suggested "fountain mechanism" for explaining the flat metallicity profiles of dIrrs and flat, rotating dEs. While only flattening the dark-matter halo has little influence, the addition of angular momentum slows down the infall of gas, so that star formation (SF) and the ensuing feedback are less centrally concentrated, occurring galaxy-wide. Additionally, this leads to more continuous SFHs by preventing large-scale oscillations in the SFR ("breathing"), and creates low density holes in the ISM, in agreement with observations of dIrrs. Our general conclusion is that rotation has a significant influence on the evolution and appearance of dwarf galaxies, and we suggest angular momentum as a second parameter (after galaxy mass as the dominant parameter) in dwarf galaxy evolution. Angular momentum differentiates between SF modes, making our fast rotating models qualitatively resemble dIrrs, which does not seem possible without rotation.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS | 19 pages, 20 figures | extra online content available (animations) : on the publisher's website / on the YouTube channel for the astronomy department of the University of Ghent : http://www.youtube.com/user/AstroUGent / YouTube playlist specifically for this article : http://www.youtube.com/user/AstroUGent#grid/user/EFAA5AAE5C5E474

Stellar orbits and the survival of metallicity gradients in simulated dwarf galaxies

We present a detailed analysis of the formation, evolution, and possible longevity of metallicity gradients in simulated dwarf galaxies. Specifically, we investigate the role of potentially orbit-changing processes such as radial stellar migration and dynamical heating in shaping or destroying these gradients. We also consider the influence of the star formation density threshold, investigating both a low and high value (0.1 amu/$cm^{3}$ - 100 amu/$cm^{3}$). The Nbody-SPH models that we use to self-consistently form and evolve dwarf galaxies in isolation show that, in the absence of significant angular momentum, metallicity gradients are gradually built up during the evolution of the dwarf galaxy, by ever more centrally concentrated star formation adding to the overall gradient. Once formed, they are robust, survive easily in the absence of external disturbances and hardly decline over several Gyr, and they agree well with observed metallicity gradients of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. The underlying orbital displacement of stars is quite limited in our models, being of the order of only fractions of the half light radius over time-spans of 5 to 10 Gyr in all star formation schemes. This is contrary to the strong radial migration found in massive disc galaxies, caused by scattering of stars off the corotation resonance of spiral structures. In the dwarf regime the stellar body only seems to undergo mild dynamical heating, due to the lack of long-lived spiral structures and/or discs. The density threshold has profound influences on the star formation mode of the models, but only a minor influence on the evolution of metallicity gradients. Increasing the threshold 1000-fold causes comparatively stronger dynamical heating of the stellar body due to the increased turbulence and the scattering of stars off dense gas clouds, but the effect remains very limited in absolute terms.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS | 20 pages, 19 figures | animations available on the YouTube playlist for this article : http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-DZsb1G8F_lDNn3G-9ACGgrinen8aSQs (YouTube channel of the department of astronomy at Ghent University: http://www.youtube.com/user/AstroUGent