Furlong, M, Bower, RG, Theuns, T, Schaye, J, Crain, RA, Schaller, M, Vecchia, CD, Frenk, CS, McCarthy, IG, Helly, J, Jenkins, A and Rosas-Guevara, YM (2014) Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 450 (4). pp. 4486-4504. ISSN 0035-8711

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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 $\Lambda$CDM 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 simulation also tracks 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 0.4 dex lower than observed, but the evolution of the rates track the observations closely. The unprecedented level of agreement between simulation and data makes EAGLE a powerful resource to understand the physical processes that govern galaxy formation.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The version of record MNRAS (July 11, 2015) 450 (4): 4486-4504 is available online at:http://dx/doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv852
Uncontrolled Keywords:	astro-ph.GA; astro-ph.GA
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Related URLs:	http://arxiv.org/abs/1410.3485v2
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2015 12:28
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 14:40
DOI or ID number:	10.1093/mnras/stv852
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/462

Available Versions of this Item

• Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations. (deposited 17 Dec 2014 15:08)
  • Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations. (deposited 02 Jun 2015 12:28) [Currently Displayed]
    • Evolution of galaxy stellar masses and star formation rates in the EAGLE simulations. (deposited 28 Oct 2015 13:53)

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