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Cited by 123Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstrophysics and Star Formation Studies

THE EATING HABITS OF MILKY WAY-MASS HALOS: DESTROYED DWARF SATELLITES AND THE METALLICITY DISTRIBUTION OF ACCRETED STARS

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Deason, Alis J., Mao, Yao-Yuan, Wechsler, Risa H.·2016·The Astrophysical Journal
DOI 10.3847/0004-637x/821/1/5
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Abstract

We study the mass spectrum of destroyed dwarfs that contribute to the accreted stellar mass of Milky Way (MW)-mass (M vir ∼ 10 12.1 M ⊙) halos using a suite of 45 zoom-in dissipationless simulations. Empirical models are employed to relate (peak) subhalo mass to dwarf stellar mass, and we use constraints from z = 0 observations and hydrodynamical simulations to estimate the metallicity distribution of the accreted stellar material. The dominant contributors to the accreted stellar mass are relatively massive dwarfs with M star ∼ 10 8–10 10 M ⊙. Halos with more quiescent accretion histories tend to have lower mass progenitors (10 8–10 9 M ⊙), and lower overall accreted stellar masses. Ultra-faint mass (M star < 10 5 M ⊙) dwarfs contribute a negligible amount (≪1%) to the accreted stellar mass and, despite having low average metallicities, supply a small fraction (∼2%–5%) of the very metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] < −2. Dwarfs with masses 10 5 < M star/M ⊙ < 10 8 provide a substantial amount of the very metal-poor stellar material (∼40%–80%), and even relatively metal-rich dwarfs with M star > 10 8 M ⊙ can contribute a considerable fraction (∼20%–60%) of metal-poor stars if their metallicity distributions have significant metal-poor tails. Finally, we find that the generic assumption of a quiescent assembly history for the MW halo seems to be in tension with the mass spectrum of its surviving dwarfs. We suggest that the MW could be a “transient fossil”; a quiescent halo with a recent accretion event(s) that disguises the preceding formation history of the halo.

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  1. Amorisco, N. C. 2015, arXiv:1511.08806 · arXiv
  2. Griffen, B. F., Ji, A. P., Dooley, G. A., et al. 2015, arXiv:1509.01255 · arXiv
  3. Rodriguez-Gomez, V., Pillepich, A., Sales, L. V., et al. 2015, arXiv:1511.08804 · arXiv
  4. Sawala, T., Frenk, C. S., Fattahi, A., et al. 2014, arXiv:1406.6362 · arXiv

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Authors
Deason, A. J., Mao, Y.-Y., & Wechsler, R. H.
Affiliations
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Deason, Alis J.
ORCID
Venue
The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Published
2016-04-01
Volume
821
Issue
1
Pages
5
ISSN
  • 0004-637X (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-4357
DOI
10.3847/0004-637x/821/1/5
OpenAlex
W2256344593
Cited by
123
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7
FWCI
6.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Astrophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Energy (-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, DE AC02 05CH11231, DE-AC02-)
  • National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (DE–AC02–05CH11231, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231)
  • Office of Science (DEAC02–05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, 05CH11231)
  • SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (DE-AC02-05-CH11231)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Keywords
Galactic halo, dwarf satellite galaxies, metallicity distribution, very metal-poor stars, halo assembly history, quiescent accretion

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