Sanchez, NN;
Tremmel, M;
Werk, JK;
Pontzen, A;
Christensen, C;
Quinn, T;
Loebman, S;
(2021)
One-Two Quench: A Double Minor Merger Scenario.
Astrophysical Journal
, 911
(2)
, Article 116. 10.3847/1538-4357/abeb15.
Preview |
Text
12Q_paper_finalarXivsubmisison.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Using the N-body+Smoothed particle hydrodynamics code, ChaNGa, we identify two merger-driven processes—disk disruption and supermassive black hole (SMBH) feedback—which work together to quench L* galaxies for over 7 Gyr. Specifically, we examine the cessation of star formation in a simulated Milky Way (MW) analog, driven by an interaction with two minor satellites. Both interactions occur within ~100 Myr of each other, and the satellites both have masses 5–20 times smaller than that of their MW-like host galaxy. Using the genetic modification process of Roth et al., we generate a set of four zoom-in, MW-mass galaxies all of which exhibit unique star formation histories due to small changes to their assembly histories. In two of these four cases, the galaxy is quenched by z = 1. Because these are controlled modifications, we are able to isolate the effects of two closely spaced minor merger events, the relative timing of which determines whether the MW-mass main galaxy quenches. This one–two punch works to: (1) fuel the SMBH at its peak accretion rate and (2) disrupt the cold, gaseous disk of the host galaxy. The end result is that feedback from the SMBH thoroughly and abruptly ends the star formation of the galaxy by z ≈ 1. We search for and find a similar quenching event in Romulus25, a hydrodynamical (25 Mpc)3 volume simulation, demonstrating that the mechanism is common enough to occur even in a small sample of MW-mass quenched galaxies at z = 0.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | One-Two Quench: A Double Minor Merger Scenario |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3847/1538-4357/abeb15 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abeb15 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Gas physics – Galaxies: simulations – Galaxies: spiral – Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics – Methods: Numerical |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10128555 |
Loading...
Loading...Loading...Loading...Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
