Modeling Galaxy Formation in a Hierarchical Universe: A Fiducial Approach and Comparison with Observational Data

Year : 2025 | Volume : 01 | Issue : 01 | Page : 30 36
    By

    sunidhi,

Abstract

We have developed a detailed model to understand how galaxies form in the framework of hierarchical theories of structure formation. Our model accounts for key processes like the formation and merging of dark matter halos, the heating and cooling of gas inside these halos, the regulation of star formation driven by energy from evolving stars and supernovae, galaxy mergers, and the changes in star populations over time. This approach is very flexible and can be used with any hierarchical clustering theory. We base our star formation and galaxy merging models on insights from numerical simulations. With this, we can predict things like the number of galaxies, their brightness, color, and how fast they rotate. The study focuses on the standard cold dark matter (CDM) model, and we also examine how different assumptions—like star formation rates or galaxy mergers—affect the results. We compare our predictions to a wide range of observational data, including galaxy luminosity functions in the B and K bands, galaxy colors, the Tully-Fisher relation, faint galaxy counts, and redshift distributions at B ~ 22. By doing this, we can narrow down the most important physical processes and get a better idea of how galaxies form. Our model performs quite well when we use a reasonable set of parameters. It produces a more accurate galaxy luminosity function than previous models and explains the observed counts of faint galaxies in both the B and K bands, as well as their redshift distributions. However, the model has its shortcomings. It does not quite match the color of many observed elliptical galaxies.

Keywords: Galaxy formation, dark matter halos, star formation, galaxy mergers, cold dark matter (CDM)

[This article belongs to International Journal of Universe ]

How to cite this article:
sunidhi. Modeling Galaxy Formation in a Hierarchical Universe: A Fiducial Approach and Comparison with Observational Data. International Journal of Universe. 2025; 01(01):30-36.
How to cite this URL:
sunidhi. Modeling Galaxy Formation in a Hierarchical Universe: A Fiducial Approach and Comparison with Observational Data. International Journal of Universe. 2025; 01(01):30-36. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/iju/article=2025/view=233668


References

1. Aragon-Salamanca A, Ellis RS, Couch WJ, Carter DM. Evidence for systematic evolution in the properties of galaxies in distant clusters. Mon Not R Astron Soc. 1993;262:764–794. doi:10.1093/mnras/262.3.764.
2. Arimoto N, Yoshii Y. The chemical evolution of galaxies. I. A model for elliptical galaxies. A&A. 1986;164:260–274.
3. Arimoto N, Yoshii Y. The chemical evolution of galaxies. II. A model for the formation of spiral galaxies. A&A. 1987;173:23–34.
4. Bardeen JM, Bond JR, Kaiser N, Szalay AS. The statistics of peaks of Gaussian random fields. ApJ. 1986;304:15–26. doi:10.1086/164143.
5. Barnes J. Galaxy formation through hierarchical clustering. In: Faber SM, editor. Nearly Normal Galaxies. Springer-Verlag; 1986. p.154–167.
6. Binney JJ. The physics of dissipational galaxy formation. ApJ. 1977;215:483–495. doi:10.1086/155378.
7. Blumenthal GR, Faber SM, Primack JR, Rees MJ. Formation of galaxies and large-scale structure with cold dark matter. Nature. 1984;311:517–525. doi:10.1038/311517a0.
8. Blumenthal GR, Faber SM, Flores R, Primack JR. Contraction of dark matter galactic halos due to baryonic infall. ApJ. 1986;301:27–39. doi:10.1086/163867.
9. Bond JR, Cole S, Efstathiou G, Kaiser N. Excursion set mass functions for hierarchical Gaussian fluctuations. ApJ. 1991;379:440–452. doi:10.1086/170520.
10. Bower RG. The evolution of groups of galaxies in the Press-Schechter formalism. Mon Not R Astron Soc. 1991;248:332–352. doi:10.1093/mnras/248.2.332.


Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 01
Issue 01
Received 07/08/2025
Accepted 12/09/2025
Published 20/10/2025
Publication Time 74 Days


Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics