1,257 research outputs found
Properties of simulated Milky Way-mass galaxies in loose group and field environments
We test the validity of comparing simulated field disk galaxies with the
empirical properties of systems situated within environments more comparable to
loose groups, including the Milky Way's Local Group. Cosmological simulations
of Milky Way-mass galaxies have been realised in two different environment
samples: in the field and in environments with similar properties to the Local
Group. Apart from the environments of the galaxies, the samples are kept as
homogeneous as possible with equivalent ranges in last major merger time, halo
mass and halo spin. Comparison of these two samples allow for systematic
differences in the simulations to be identified. Metallicity gradients, disk
scale lengths, colours, magnitudes and age-velocity dispersion relations are
studied for each galaxy in the suite and the strength of the link between these
and environment of the galaxies is studied. The bulge-to-disk ratio of the
galaxies show that these galaxies are less spheroid dominated than many other
simulated galaxies in literature with the majority of both samples being disk
dominated. We find that secular evolution and mergers dominate the spread of
morphologies and metallicity gradients with no visible differences between the
two environment samples. In contrast with this consistency in the two samples
there is tentative evidence for a systematic difference in the velocity
dispersion-age relations of galaxies in the different environments. Loose group
galaxies appear to have more discrete steps in their velocity dispersion-age
relations. We conclude that at the current resolution of cosmological galaxy
simulations field environment galaxies are sufficiently similar to those in
loose groups to be acceptable proxies for comparison with the Milky Way
provided that a similar assembly history is considered.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, abstract abridged for arXiv. Accepted for
publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Constraining sub-grid physics with high-redshift spatially-resolved metallicity distributions
Aims. We examine the role of energy feedback in shaping the distribution of metals within cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of L* disc galaxies. While negative abundance gradients today provide a boundary condition for galaxy evolution models, in support of inside-out disc growth, empirical evidence as to whether abundance gradients steepen or flatten with time remains highly contradictory.
Methods. We made use of a suite of L* discs, realised with and without "enhanced" feedback. All the simulations were produced using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics code Gasoline, and their in situ gas-phase metallicity gradients traced from redshift z similar to 2 to the present-day. Present-day age-metallicity relations and metallicity distribution functions were derived for each system.
Results. The "enhanced" feedback models, which have been shown to be in agreement with a broad range of empirical scaling relations, distribute energy and re-cycled ISM material over large scales and predict the existence of relatively "flat" and temporally invariant abundance gradients. Enhanced feedback schemes reduce significantly the scatter in the local stellar age-metallicity relation and, especially, the [O/Fe]-[Fe/H] relation. The local [O/Fe] distribution functions for our L* discs show clear bimodality, with peaks at [O/Fe] = -0.05 and +0.05 (for stars with [Fe/H] > -1), consistent with our earlier work on dwarf discs.
Conclusions. Our results with "enhanced" feedback are inconsistent with our earlier generation of simulations realised with "conservative" feedback. We conclude that spatially-resolved metallicity distributions, particularly at high-redshift, offer a unique and under-utilised constraint on the uncertain nature of stellar feedback processes
Polarimetry of transneptunian objects (136472) Makemake and (90482) Orcus
Context. We study the surface properties of transneptunian populations of
Solar-system bodies. Aims. We investigate the surface characteristics of the
dwarf planet (136472) Makemake and the resonant object (90482) Orcus. Methods.
Using the FORS2 instrument of the ESO-VLT we have carried out linear
polarisation measurements of Makemake and Orcus. Results. Polarisation of Orcus
is similar to that of smaller size objects. The polarimetric properties of
Makemake are very close to those of Eris and Pluto. We have not found any
significant differences in the polarisation properties of objects from
different dynamical classes. However, there are significant differences in
polarisation of large and smaller size objects, and between large TNOs with
water-ice and methane-ice dominated surfaces. Conclusions. We confirm the
different types of polarisation phase behavior for the largest and smaller size
TNOs. To explain subtle surface polarisation of Pluto, Makemake and Eris we
assume that their surfaces are covered by a thin layer of hoarfrost masking the
surface structure
The role of feedback in shaping the structure of the interstellar medium
We present an analysis of the role of feedback in shaping the neutral hydrogen (H I) content of simulated disc galaxies. For our analysis, we have used two realizations of two separate Milky Way-like (similar to L star) discs - one employing a conservative feedback scheme (McMaster Unbiased Galaxy Survey), the other significantly more energetic [Making Galaxies In a Cosmological Context (MaGICC)]. To quantify the impact of these schemes, we generate zeroth moment (surface density) maps of the inferred H I distribution; construct power spectra associated with the underlying structure of the simulated cold interstellar medium, in addition to their radial surface density and velocity dispersion profiles. Our results are compared with a parallel, self-consistent, analysis of empirical data from The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS). Single power-law fits (P proportional to k(gamma)) to the power spectra of the stronger feedback (MaGICC) runs (over spatial scales corresponding to similar to 0.5 to similar to 20 kpc) result in slopes consistent with those seen in the THINGS sample (gamma similar to -2.5). The weaker feedback (MUGS) runs exhibit shallower power-law slopes (gamma similar to -1.2). The power spectra of the MaGICC simulations are more consistent though with a two-component fit, with a flatter distribution of power on larger scales (i.e. gamma similar to -1.4 for scales in excess of similar to 2 kpc) and a steeper slope on scales below similar to 1 kpc (gamma similar to -5), qualitatively consistent with empirical claims, as well as our earlier work on dwarf discs. The radial H I surface density profiles of the MaGICC discs show a clear exponential behaviour, while those of the MUGS suite are essentially flat; both behaviours are encountered in nature, although the THINGS sample is more consistent with our stronger (MaGICC) feedback runs
MaGICC baryon cycle: The enrichment history of simulated disc galaxies
Using cosmological galaxy formation simulations from the MaGICC (Making Galaxies in a Cosmological Context) project, spanning stellar mass from ∼107 to 3 × 1010 M⊙, we trace the baryonic cycle of infalling gas from the virial radius through to its eventual participation in the star formation process. An emphasis is placed upon the temporal history of chemical enrichment during its passage through the corona and circumgalactic medium. We derive the distributions of time between gas crossing the virial radius and being accreted to the star-forming region (which allows for mixing within the corona), as well as the time between gas being accreted to the star-forming region and then ultimately forming stars (which allows for mixing within the disc). Significant numbers of stars are formed from gas that cycles back through the hot halo after first accreting to the star-forming region. Gas entering high-mass galaxies is pre-enriched in low-mass proto-galaxies prior to entering the virial radius of the central progenitor, with only small amounts of primordial gas accreted, even at high redshift (z ∼ 5). After entering the virial radius, significant further enrichment occurs prior to the accretion of the gas to the star-forming region, with gas that is feeding the star-forming region surpassing 0.1 Z⊙ by z = 0. Mixing with halo gas, itself enriched via galactic fountains, is thus crucial in determining the metallicity at which gas is accreted to the disc. The lowest mass simulated galaxy (Mvir ∼ 2 × 1010 M⊙, with M⋆ ∼ 107 M⊙), by contrast, accretes primordial gas through the virial radius and on to the disc, throughout its history. Much like the case for classical analytical solutions to the so-called ‘G-dwarf problem’, overproduction of low-metallicity stars is ameliorated by the interplay between the time of accretion on to the disc and the subsequent involvement in star formation – i.e. due to the inefficiency of star formation. Finally, gas outflow/metal removal rates from star-forming regions as a function of galactic mass are presented
Getting to the root of student ‘dis-satisfaction’ at the University of East London
Every year, when the results of student surveys are
published, subject librarians pore over them and
try to uncover why some programmes give lower
satisfaction scores for the library than others, even
when taught within the same school, on the same
campus and provided with the same services.
This article is an account of how two subject
librarians responded to relatively low satisfaction
scores for a few programmes within their schools,
and the findings they made in the process. It also
outlines the response and findings of the library’s
Academic Services & Skills Manager following
publication of the most recent International Student Barometer results
Galaxy Formation with local photoionisation feedback I. Methods
We present a first study of the effect of local photoionising radiation on
gas cooling in smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of galaxy formation.
We explore the combined effect of ionising radiation from young and old stellar
populations. The method computes the effect of multiple radiative sources using
the same tree algorithm used for gravity, so it is computationally efficient
and well resolved. The method foregoes calculating absorption and scattering in
favour of a constant escape fraction for young stars to keep the calculation
efficient enough to simulate the entire evolution of a galaxy in a cosmological
context to the present day. This allows us to quantify the effect of the local
photoionisation feedback through the whole history of a galaxy`s formation. The
simulation of a Milky Way like galaxy using the local photoionisation model
forms ~ 40 % less stars than a simulation that only includes a standard uniform
background UV field. The local photoionisation model decreases star formation
by increasing the cooling time of the gas in the halo and increasing the
equilibrium temperature of dense gas in the disc. Coupling the local radiation
field to gas cooling from the halo provides a preventive feedback mechanism
which keeps the central disc light and produces slowly rising rotation curves
without resorting to extreme feedback mechanisms. These preliminary results
indicate that the effect of local photoionising sources is significant and
should not be ignored in models of galaxy formation.Comment: Accepted for Publication in MNRAS, 13 pages, 13 figure
The Chemical and Dynamical Evolution of Isolated Dwarf Galaxies
Using a suite of simulations (Governato et al. 2010) which successfully
produce bulgeless (dwarf) disk galaxies, we provide an analysis of their
associated cold interstellar media (ISM) and stellar chemical abundance
patterns. A preliminary comparison with observations is undertaken, in order to
assess whether the properties of the cold gas and chemistry of the stellar
components are recovered successfully. To this end, we have extracted the
radial and vertical gas density profiles, neutral hydrogen velocity dispersion,
and the power spectrum of structure within the ISM. We complement this analysis
of the cold gas with a brief examination of the simulations' metallicity
distribution functions and the distribution of alpha-elements-to-iron.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the JENAM 2010 Symposium "Dwarf
Galaxies: Keys to Galaxy Formation and Evolution" (Lisbon, 9-10 September
2010), P. Papaderos, S. Recchi, G. Hensler (eds.), Springer Verlag (2011), in
pres
Mechanisms of baryon loss for dark satellites in cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations
We present a study of satellites in orbit around a high-resolution, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) galaxy simulated in a cosmological context. The simulated galaxy is approximately of the same mass as the Milky Way. The cumulative number of luminous satellites at z= 0 is similar to the observed system of satellites orbiting the Milky Way although an analysis of the satellite mass function reveals an order of magnitude more dark satellites than luminous satellites. Some of the dark subhaloes are more massive than some of the luminous subhaloes at z= 0. What separates luminous and dark subhaloes is not their mass at z= 0, but the maximum mass the subhaloes ever achieve. We study the effect of four mass-loss mechanisms on the subhaloes: ultraviolet (UV) ionizing radiation, ram-pressure stripping, tidal stripping and stellar feedback, and compare the impact of each of these four mechanisms on the satellites. In the lowest mass subhaloes, UV is responsible for the majority of the baryonic mass-loss. Ram-pressure stripping removes whatever mass remains from the low-mass satellites. More massive subhaloes have deeper potential wells and retain more mass during reionization. However, as satellites pass near the centre of the main halo, tidal forces cause significant mass-loss from satellites of all masses. Satellites that are tidally stripped from the outside can account for the luminous satellites that are of lower mass than some of the dark satellites. Stellar feedback has the greatest impact on medium-mass satellites that had formed stars, but lost all their gas by z= 0. Our results demonstrate that the missing-satellite problem is not an intractable issue with the cold dark matter cosmology, but is rather a manifestation of baryonic processe
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