Cited by 1,451Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaAstrophysics and Star Formation StudiesStellar, planetary, and galactic studies

The EAGLE simulations of galaxy formation: calibration of subgrid physics and model variations

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Crain, Robert A., Schaye, Joop, Bower, Richard G., Furlong, Michelle, Schaller, Matthieu, Theuns, Tom, Dalla Vecchia, Claudio, Frenk, Carlos S. +6 more·2015·Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Abstract

We present results from 13 cosmological simulations that explore the parameter space of the ‘Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments’ (EAGLE) simulation project. Four of the simulations follow the evolution of a periodic cube L = 50 cMpc on a side, and each employs a different subgrid model of the energetic feedback associated with star formation. The relevant parameters were adjusted so that the simulations each reproduce the observed galaxy stellar mass function at z = 0.1. Three of the simulations fail to form disc galaxies as extended as observed, and we show analytically that this is a consequence of numerical radiative losses that reduce the efficiency of stellar feedback in high-density gas. Such losses are greatly reduced in the fourth simulation – the EAGLE reference model – by injecting more energy in higher density gas. This model produces galaxies with the observed size distribution, and also reproduces many galaxy scaling relations. In the remaining nine simulations, a single parameter or process of the reference model was varied at a time. We find that the properties of galaxies with stellar mass ≲ M⋆ (the ‘knee’ of the galaxy stellar mass function) are largely governed by feedback associated with star formation, while those of more massive galaxies are also controlled by feedback from accretion on to their central black holes. Both processes must be efficient in order to reproduce the observed galaxy population. In general, simulations that have been calibrated to reproduce the low-redshift galaxy stellar mass function will still not form realistic galaxies, but the additional requirement that galaxy sizes be acceptable leads to agreement with a large range of observables.

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Research works printed but not linked: 12

  1. Correa C. A., Wyithe J. S. B., Schaye J., Duffy A. R., 2014, preprint (arXiv:e-prints)
  2. Furlong M. et al., 2015, preprint (arXiv:e-prints)
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Authors
Crain, R. A., Schaye, J., Bower, R. G., Furlong, M., Schaller, M., Theuns, T., Dalla Vecchia, C., Frenk, C. S., McCarthy, I. G., Helly, J. C., Jenkins, A., Rosas-Guevara, Y. M., White, S. D. M., & Trayford, J. W.
Affiliations
  • Leiden University (NL)
  • Durham University (GB)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
  • Max Planck Society (DE)
Corresponding author
Crain, Robert A.
Venue
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published
2015-04-29
Volume
450
Issue
2
Pages
1937-1961
ISSN
  • 0035-8711 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2966
OpenAlex
W2015637674
Cited by
1,451
References
180
Citations by year
2026: 91 · 2025: 138 · 2024: 137 · 2023: 148 · 2022: 161 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 167 · 2019: 157 · 2018: 104 · 2017: 104 · 2016: 92 · 2015: 31
FWCI
62.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (publishedVersion)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (No.NSF PHY11-25915, ST/K003267/1, ST/H008519/1, FP7/2007-2013, ST/K00042X/1, NSF PHY-11-25915)
  • Durham University (ST/K00042X/1, ST/K003267/1, ST/H008519/1)
  • Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe AISBL
  • Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (AP P7/08 CHARM)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (ST/K00042X/1, FP7 2007-2013, ST/H008519/1)
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/I000976/1, ST/H008519, ST/I004459/2, ST/K00042X/1, ST/L00061X/1, ST/I00162X/1, ST/L00075X/1, FP7/2007-2013, ST/M007006/1, ST/I004459/1, ST/F001166/1, ST/H008519/1, ST/K003267/1)
  • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (278594, 267291, 321334)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Keywords
EAGLE simulation, galaxy formation, stellar feedback, radiative cooling, galaxy size distribution, galaxy stellar mass function, galaxy scaling relations, disk galaxies, high-redshift galaxies

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