The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology

Details The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology

2011-05-18

arxiv.org/abs/1105.3731v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

17 pages, 11 figures. Submitted to MNRAS

Scientific paper

We predict the formation histories, properties and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) in the Lambda-CDM cosmology. In our model, which incorporates a top-heavy IMF in starbursts, we find that most LBGs are starbursts triggered by minor mergers of galaxies. The duration of the LBG phase is predicted to be quite short, ~20-60 Myr. We investigate the distributions of stellar and halo masses and morphologies for bright (L_UV > L*_UV) and faint (L_UV > 0.1 L*_UV) LBGs at z=3, z=6 and z=10 (where we classify LBGs according to their rest-frame UV luminosities relative the observed characteristic luminosity L*_UV at z \approx 3). Bright LBGs at z=3 are predicted to have median stellar masses ~ 1x10^9 Msun/h and host halo masses ~ 3x10^{11} Msun/h, and to be typically mildly disk-dominated in stellar mass. On the other hand, faint LBGs at z=10 are predicted to have median stellar masses of only ~ 1x10^7 Msun/h and host halo masses 2x10^{10} Msun/h, and to be generally bulge-dominated. Bright LBGs at z=3 evolve to present-day galaxies with median stellar mass ~ 5x^{10} Msun/h (comparable to the Milky Way), consisting of roughly equal numbers of disk- and bulge-dominated systems, and hosted by halos with median mass ~2x10^{13} Msun/h (corresponding to medium-size galaxy groups). The model predicts that 40% of Milky Way mass galaxies at the present-day have a bright LBG progenitor in the redshift range 3

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The nature and descendants of Lyman-break galaxies in the LambdaCDM cosmology will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-68016