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arXiv 1107.4419astro-ph.CO
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一个修正的恒星形成定律作为星系演化中开放问题的解决方案

A modified star formation law as a solution to open problems in galaxy evolution

Lan Wang, Simone M. Weinmann, Eyal Neistein

摘要:

为了重现恒星质量函数的低质量端,大多数当前的星系演化模型都调用了非常有效的超新星反馈。然而,这个解决方案似乎有几个缺点,比如在z=0的低质量星系中预测的恒星形成太少。在这项工作中,我们探讨修改恒星形成(SF)法律作为一种替代解决方案,以实现匹配的恒星质量函数。这是通过应用半分析模型的基础上,德露西亚和布莱佐,但不同的SF法律,千禧年和千禧年II的模拟,内的形式主义开发的Neistein和Weinmann。我们最好的模型包括较低的SF效率比预测的Kennicutt-Schmidt定律在低恒星质量,没有尖锐的阈值冷气体质量的SF,和SF法是独立的宇宙时间。这些简单的修改导致了一个模型,它比目前的标准模型更成功地再现了质量小于10^{10} M太阳的星系的各种性质。改进包括与观测到的星系自关联函数的良好匹配,恒星质量函数从z=3到z=0的演化与观测相似,以及与观测到的特定恒星形成率更好的一致性。然而,我们的修改也导致了对星系冷质量含量的戏剧性过度预测。这表明,找到一个成功的模型可能需要对恒星形成和超新星反馈进行微调,以及改进气体冷却,或者可能包括一个未知的过程,可以有效地加热或排出高红移的气体。

英文摘要:

In order to reproduce the low mass end of the stellar mass function, most current models of galaxy evolution invoke very efficient supernova feedback. This solution seems to suffer from several shortcomings however, like predicting too little star formation in low mass galaxies at z=0. In this work, we explore modifications to the star formation (SF) law as an alternative solution to achieve a match to the stellar mass function. This is done by applying semi-analytic models based on De Lucia & Blaizot, but with varying SF laws, to the Millennium and Millennium-II simulations, within the formalism developed by Neistein & Weinmann. Our best model includes lower SF efficiencies than predicted by the Kennicutt-Schmidt law at low stellar masses, no sharp threshold of cold gas mass for SF, and a SF law that is independent of cosmic time. These simple modifications result in a model that is more successful than current standard models in reproducing various properties of galaxies less massive than 10^{10}Msun. The improvements include a good match to the observed auto-correlation function of galaxies, an evolution of the stellar mass function from z=3 to z=0 similar to observations, and a better agreement with observed specific star formation rates. However, our modifications also lead to a dramatic over-prediction of the cold mass content of galaxies. This shows that finding a successful model may require fine-tuning of both star formation and supernovae feedback, as well as improvements on gas cooling, or perhaps the inclusion of a yet unknown process which efficiently heats or expels gas at high redshifts.

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