Open AccessThe Tully–Fisher relation and its evolution with redshift in cosmological simulations of disc galaxy formation
Author(s) -
Portinari Laura,
SommerLarsen Jesper
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.11348.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , galaxy formation and evolution , galaxy , star formation , redshift , metallicity , radiative transfer , tully–fisher relation , stellar mass , stellar evolution , astronomy , stars , galaxy rotation curve , quantum mechanics
We present predictions on the evolution of the Tully–Fisher (TF) relation with redshift, based on cosmological N ‐body/hydrodynamical simulations of disc galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations invoke star formation and stellar feedback, chemical evolution with non‐instantaneous recycling, metallicity‐dependent radiative cooling and effects of a metagalactic ultraviolet field, including simplified radiative transfer. At z = 0, the simulated and empirical TF relations are offset by about 0.4 mag (1σ) in the B and I bands. The origin of these offsets is somewhat unclear, but it may not necessarily be a problem of the simulations only. As to evolution, we find a brightening of the TF relation between z = 0 and 1 of about 0.85 mag in rest‐frame B band, with a non‐evolving slope. The brightening we predict is intermediate between the (still quite discrepant) observational estimates. This evolution is primarily a luminosity effect, while the stellar mass TF relation shows negligible evolution. The individual galaxies do gain stellar mass between z = 1 and 0, by a 50–100 per cent, but they also correspondingly increase their characteristic circular speed. As a consequence, individually they mainly evolve along the stellar mass TF relation, while the relation as such does not show any significant evolution.