THE EVOLUTION OF CENTRAL GROUP GALAXIES IN HYDRODYNAMICAL SIMULATIONS
- Institute for Astronomy, ETH Zuerich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, 8093 Zuerich (Switzerland)
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zuerich (Switzerland)
- INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo Dell'Osservatorio, 5, 35122 Padova (Italy)
- Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1580 (United States)
- Grupo de Astrofisica, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid (Spain)
We trace the evolution of central galaxies in three approx10{sup 13} M{sub sun} galaxy groups simulated at high resolution in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. In all three cases, the evolution in the group potential leads, at z = 0, to central galaxies that are massive, gas-poor early-type systems supported by stellar velocity dispersion and which resemble either elliptical or S0 galaxies. Their z approx 2-2.5 main progenitors are massive (M{sub *} approx (3-10) x 10{sup 10} M{sub sun}), star-forming (20-60 M{sub sun} yr{sup -1}) galaxies which host substantial reservoirs of cold gas (approx5 x 10{sup 9} M{sub sun}) in extended gas disks. Our simulations thus show that star-forming galaxies observed at z approx 2 are likely the main progenitors of central galaxies in galaxy groups at z = 0. At z approx 2 the stellar component of all galaxies is compact, with a half-mass radius <1 kpc. The central stellar density stays approximatively constant from such early epochs down to z = 0. Instead, the galaxies grow inside out, by acquiring a stellar envelope outside the innermost approx2 kpc. Consequently the density within the effective radius decreases by up to 2 orders of magnitude. Both major and minor mergers contribute to most (70{sup +20}{sub -15}%) of the mass accreted outside the effective radius and thus drive an episodical evolution of the half-mass radii, particularly below z = 1. In situ star formation and secular evolution processes contribute to 14{sup +18}{sub -9}% and 16{sup +6}{sub -11}%, respectively. Overall, the simulated galaxies grow by a factor approx4-5 in mass and size since redshift z approx 2. The short cooling time in the center of groups can foster a 'hot accretion' mode. In one of the three simulated groups this leads to a dramatic rejuvenation of the central group galaxy at z < 1, affecting its morphology, kinematics, and colors. This episode is eventually terminated by a group-group merger. Mergers also appear to be responsible for the suppression of cooling flows in the other two groups. Passive stellar evolution and minor galaxy mergers gradually restore the early-type character of the central galaxy in the cooling flow group on a timescale of approx1-2 Gyr. Although the average properties of central galaxies may be set by their halo masses, our simulations demonstrate that the interplay between halo mass assembly, galaxy merging, and gas accretion has a substantial influence on the star formation histories and z = 0 morphologies of central galaxies in galaxy groups.
- OSTI ID:
- 21392343
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 709, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/709/1/218; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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