No Arabic abstract
Based on a cosmological N-body simulation we analyze spatial and kinematic alignments of satellite halos within six times the virial radius of group size host halos (Rvir). We measure three different types of spatial alignment: halo alignment between the orientation of the group central substructure (GCS) and the distribution of its satellites, radial alignment between the orientation of a satellite and the direction towards its GCS, and direct alignment between the orientation of the GCS and that of its satellites. In analogy we use the directions of satellite velocities and probe three further types of alignment: the radial velocity alignment between the satellite velocity and connecting line between satellite and GCS, the halo velocity alignment between the orientation of the GCS and satellite velocities and the auto velocity alignment between the satellites orientations and their velocities. We find that satellites are preferentially located along the major axis of the GCS within at least 6 Rvir (the range probed here). Furthermore, satellites preferentially point towards the GCS. The most pronounced signal is detected on small scales but a detectable signal extends out to 6 Rvir. The direct alignment signal is weaker, however a systematic trend is visible at distances < 2 Rvir. All velocity alignments are highly significant on small scales. Our results suggest that the halo alignment reflects the filamentary large scale structure which extends far beyond the virial radii of the groups. In contrast, the main contribution to the radial alignment arises from the adjustment of the satellite orientations in the group tidal field. The projected data reveal good agreement with recent results derived from large galaxy surveys. (abridged)
The spatial distribution of the satellite populations of the Milky Way and Andromeda are puzzling in that they are nearly perpendicular to the disks of their central galaxies. To understand the origin of such configurations we study the alignment of the central galaxy, satellite system and dark matter halo in the largest of the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments (EAGLE) simulation. We find that centrals and their satellite systems tend to be well aligned with their haloes, with a median misalignment angle of $33^{circ}$ in both cases. While the centrals are better aligned with the inner $10$ kpc halo, the satellite systems are better aligned with the entire halo indicating that satellites preferentially trace the outer halo. The central - satellite alignment is weak (median misalignment angle of $52^{circ}$) and we find that around $20%$ of systems have a misalignment angle larger than $78^{circ}$, which is the value for the Milky Way. The central - satellite alignment is a consequence of the tendency of both components to align with the dark matter halo. As a consequence, when the central is parallel to the satellite system, it also tends to be parallel to the halo. In contrast, if the central is perpendicular to the satellite system, as in the case of the Milky Way and Andromeda, then the central - halo alignment is much weaker. Dispersion-dominated (spheroidal) centrals have a stronger alignment with both their halo and their satellites than rotation-dominated (disk) centrals. We also found that the halo, the central galaxy and the satellite system tend to be aligned with the surrounding large-scale distribution of matter, with the halo being the better aligned of the three.
Satellite galaxies in rich clusters are subject to numerous physical processes that can significantly influence their evolution. However, the typical L* satellite galaxy resides in much lower mass galaxy groups, where the processes capable of altering their evolution are generally weaker and have had less time to operate. To investigate the extent to which satellite and central galaxy evolution differs, we separately model the stellar mass - halo mass (M* -Mh) relation for these two populations over the redshift interval 0 < z < 1. This relation for central galaxies is constrained by the galaxy stellar mass function while the relation for satellite galaxies is constrained against recent measurements of the galaxy two-point correlation function (2PCF). At z ~ 0 the satellites, on average, have ~10% larger stellar masses at fixed peak subhalo mass compared to central galaxies of the same halo mass. This is required in order to reproduce the observed stellar mass-dependent 2PCF and satellite fractions. At low masses our model slightly under-predicts the correlation function at ~1 Mpc scales. At z ~ 1 the satellite and central galaxy M*-Mh relations are consistent within the errors, and the model provides an excellent fit to the clustering data. At present, the errors on the clustering data at z ~ 2 are too large to constrain the satellite model. A simple model in which satellite and central galaxies share the same M*-Mh relation is able to reproduce the extant z ~ 2 clustering data. We speculate that the striking similarity between the satellite and central galaxy M*-Mh relations since z ~ 2 arises because the central galaxy relation evolves very weakly with time and because the stellar mass of the typical satellite galaxy has not changed significantly since it was accreted. [Abridged]
The chemo-dynamics of galaxy halos beyond the Local Group may now be mapped out through the use of globular clusters and planetary nebulae as bright tracer objects, along with deep multi-slit spectroscopy of the integrated stellar light. We present results from surveying nearby early-type galaxies, including evidence for kinematically distinct halos that may reflect two-phase galaxy assembly. We also demonstrate the utility of the tracer approach in measuring the kinematics of stellar substructures around the Umbrella Galaxy, which allow us to reconstruct the progenitor properties and stream orbit.
Existing models of galaxy formation have not yet explained striking correlations between structure and star-formation activity in galaxies, notably the sloped and moving boundaries that divide star-forming from quenched galaxies in key structural diagrams. This paper uses these and other relations to ``reverse-engineer the quenching process for central galaxies. The basic idea is that star-forming galaxies with larger radii (at a given stellar mass) have lower black-hole masses due to lower central densities. Galaxies cross into the green valley when the cumulative effective energy radiated by their black hole equals $sim4times$ their halo-gas binding energy. Since larger-radii galaxies have smaller black holes, one finds they must evolve to higher stellar masses in order to meet this halo-energy criterion, which explains the sloping boundaries. A possible cause of radii differences among star-forming galaxies is halo concentration. The evolutionary tracks of star-forming galaxies are nearly parallel to the green-valley boundaries, and it is mainly the sideways motions of these boundaries with cosmic time that cause galaxies to quench. BH-scaling laws for star-forming, quenched, and green-valley galaxies are different, and most BH mass growth takes place in the green valley. Implications include: the radii of star-forming galaxies are an important second parameter in shaping their black holes; black holes are connected to their halos but in different ways for star-forming, quenched, and green-valley galaxies; and the same BH-halo quenching mechanism has been in place since $z sim 3$. We conclude with a discussion of black hole-galaxy co-evolution, the origin and interpretation of BH scaling laws.
The total luminosity of satellite galaxies around a central galaxy, L$_{sat}$, is a powerful metric for probing dark matter halos. In this paper we use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys to explore the relationship between L$_{sat}$ and various observable galaxy properties for a sample of 117,966 central galaxies out to $z = 0.15$. At fixed stellar mass, every galaxy property we explore shows a correlation with L$_{sat}$. This implies that dark matter halos play a possibly significant role in determining these secondary galaxy properties. We quantify these correlations by computing the mutual information between L$_{sat}$ and secondary properties and explore how this mutual information varies as a function of stellar mass and when separating the sample into star-forming and quiescent central galaxies. We find that absolute r-band magnitude correlates more strongly with L$_{sat}$ than stellar mass across all galaxy populations; and that effective radius, velocity dispersion, and Sersic index do so as well for star-forming and quiescent galaxies. L$_{sat}$ is sensitive to both the mass of the host halo as well as the halo formation history, with younger halos having higher L$_{sat}$. L$_{sat}$ by itself cannot distinguish between these two effects, but measurements of galaxy large-scale environment can break this degeneracy. For star-forming central galaxies, we find that r$_{rm eff}$, $sigma_v$, and Sersic index all correlate with large-scale density, implying that these halo age plays a role in determining these properties. For quiescent galaxies, we find that all secondary properties are independent of environment, implying that correlations with L$_{sat}$ are driven only by halo mass. These results are a significant step forward in quantifying the full extent of the galaxy-halo connection, and present a new test of galaxy formation models.