Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations
In a recent paper we presented the first semi-analytic model of galaxy formation in which the Thermally-Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch phase of stellar evolution has been fully implemented. Here we address the comparison with observations, and show how the TP-AGB recipe affects the performance of t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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2009
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| _version_ | 1797072492353814528 |
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| author | Tonini, C Maraston, C Thomas, D Devriendt, J Silk, J |
| author_facet | Tonini, C Maraston, C Thomas, D Devriendt, J Silk, J |
| author_sort | Tonini, C |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | In a recent paper we presented the first semi-analytic model of galaxy formation in which the Thermally-Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch phase of stellar evolution has been fully implemented. Here we address the comparison with observations, and show how the TP-AGB recipe affects the performance of the model in reproducing the colours and near-IR luminosities of high-redshift galaxies. We find that the semi-analytic model with the TP-AGB better matches the colour-magnitude and colour-colour relations at z ~ 2, both for nearly-passive and for star-forming galaxies. The model with TP-AGB produces star-forming galaxies with red V-K colours, thus revising the unique interpretation of high-redshift red objects as 'red and dead'. We also show that without the TP-AGB the semi-analytic model fails at reproducing the observed colours, a situation that cannot be corrected by dust reddening. We also explore the effect of nebular emission on the predicted colour-magnitude relation of star-forming galaxies, to conclude that it does not play a significant role in reddening their colours, at least in the range of star-formation rates covered by the model. Finally, the rest-frame K-band luminosity function at z ~ 2.5 is more luminous by almost 1 magnitude. This indicates that the AGN feedback recipe that is adopted to regulate the high-mass end of the luminosity function should be sophisticated to take the effect of the stellar populations into account at high redshifts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:08:28Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:64a973b9-0142-4eaf-a8b2-bf336663816b |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:08:28Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:64a973b9-0142-4eaf-a8b2-bf336663816b2022-03-26T18:20:19ZHierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observationsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:64a973b9-0142-4eaf-a8b2-bf336663816bEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2009Tonini, CMaraston, CThomas, DDevriendt, JSilk, JIn a recent paper we presented the first semi-analytic model of galaxy formation in which the Thermally-Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch phase of stellar evolution has been fully implemented. Here we address the comparison with observations, and show how the TP-AGB recipe affects the performance of the model in reproducing the colours and near-IR luminosities of high-redshift galaxies. We find that the semi-analytic model with the TP-AGB better matches the colour-magnitude and colour-colour relations at z ~ 2, both for nearly-passive and for star-forming galaxies. The model with TP-AGB produces star-forming galaxies with red V-K colours, thus revising the unique interpretation of high-redshift red objects as 'red and dead'. We also show that without the TP-AGB the semi-analytic model fails at reproducing the observed colours, a situation that cannot be corrected by dust reddening. We also explore the effect of nebular emission on the predicted colour-magnitude relation of star-forming galaxies, to conclude that it does not play a significant role in reddening their colours, at least in the range of star-formation rates covered by the model. Finally, the rest-frame K-band luminosity function at z ~ 2.5 is more luminous by almost 1 magnitude. This indicates that the AGN feedback recipe that is adopted to regulate the high-mass end of the luminosity function should be sophisticated to take the effect of the stellar populations into account at high redshifts. |
| spellingShingle | Tonini, C Maraston, C Thomas, D Devriendt, J Silk, J Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title | Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing
asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title_full | Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing
asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title_fullStr | Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing
asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing
asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title_short | Hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing
asymptotic giant branch stars: comparison with observations |
| title_sort | hierarchical models of high redshift galaxies with thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars comparison with observations |
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