Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective

Context. Low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSBGs) are defined as galaxies with central surface brightness levels fainter than the night sky, making them challenging to observe. A key open question is whether their faint appearance arises from intrinsic properties or from stochastic events in their fo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Stoppacher, Doris, Tissera, P., Rosas Guevara, Y., Galaz, G., Oñorbe Bernis, José
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/181051
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/181051
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: Formation
Galaxies: halos
Dark matter
Large-scale structure of Universe
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spelling Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspectiveStoppacher, DorisTissera, P.Rosas Guevara, Y.Galaz, G.Oñorbe Bernis, JoséGalaxies: evolutionGalaxies: FormationGalaxies: halosDark matterLarge-scale structure of UniverseContext. Low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSBGs) are defined as galaxies with central surface brightness levels fainter than the night sky, making them challenging to observe. A key open question is whether their faint appearance arises from intrinsic properties or from stochastic events in their formation histories. Aims. We aim to trace the formation histories of LSBGs to assess whether their evolutionary paths differ from those of high-surface brightness galaxies (HSBGs) and to identify the key physical drivers behind these differences. Methods. We present a fast and efficient method to estimate stellar surface brightness densities in hydrodynamical simulations and a statistically robust exploration of over 150 properties in the reference run REF-L0100N1504 of the EAGLE simulation. To minimise any biases, we carefully matched the stellar and halo mass distributions of the selected LSB and HSB samples. Results. At z = 0, LSBGs are typically extended, rotation-supported systems with lower stellar densities, older stellar populations, reduced star formation activity, and higher specific stellar angular momenta (j∗) than their HSBG counterparts. They also exhibit larger radii of maximum circular velocity (Rvmax ). We identified key transition redshifts that mark the divergence of LSBG and HSBG properties: j* diverges at z ∼ 5–7 and Rvmax at z ∼ 2–3. Star formation activity and large-scale environment appear to play only a minimal role in the development of LSB features. Conclusions. LSBGs follow mass-dependent evolutionary pathways, where early rapid formation and later slowdowns, combined with their distinct structural properties, influence their response to external factors (e.g. mergers and gas accretion). Their LSB nature emerges from intrinsic dynamical and structural factors rather than environmental influences, with angular momentum as a key driver of divergence at high redshifts.EDP SciencesFísica Atómica, Molecular y NuclearMinisterio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación. ChileMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). EspañaEuropean Union (UE)Junta de Andalucía2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/181051https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésAstronomy & Astrophysics, 701, A272.1240465/2024FB210003CNS2022-135878PID2022- 138855NB-32PPIT2024-31833https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:idus.us.es:11441/1810512026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
title Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
spellingShingle Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
Stoppacher, Doris
Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: Formation
Galaxies: halos
Dark matter
Large-scale structure of Universe
title_short Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
title_full Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
title_fullStr Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
title_full_unstemmed Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
title_sort Hidden figures in the sky: evolution of low-surface-brightness galaxies from a hydrodynamical perspective
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Stoppacher, Doris
Tissera, P.
Rosas Guevara, Y.
Galaz, G.
Oñorbe Bernis, José
author Stoppacher, Doris
author_facet Stoppacher, Doris
Tissera, P.
Rosas Guevara, Y.
Galaz, G.
Oñorbe Bernis, José
author_role author
author2 Tissera, P.
Rosas Guevara, Y.
Galaz, G.
Oñorbe Bernis, José
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear
Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación. Chile
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España
European Union (UE)
Junta de Andalucía
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: Formation
Galaxies: halos
Dark matter
Large-scale structure of Universe
topic Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: Formation
Galaxies: halos
Dark matter
Large-scale structure of Universe
description Context. Low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSBGs) are defined as galaxies with central surface brightness levels fainter than the night sky, making them challenging to observe. A key open question is whether their faint appearance arises from intrinsic properties or from stochastic events in their formation histories. Aims. We aim to trace the formation histories of LSBGs to assess whether their evolutionary paths differ from those of high-surface brightness galaxies (HSBGs) and to identify the key physical drivers behind these differences. Methods. We present a fast and efficient method to estimate stellar surface brightness densities in hydrodynamical simulations and a statistically robust exploration of over 150 properties in the reference run REF-L0100N1504 of the EAGLE simulation. To minimise any biases, we carefully matched the stellar and halo mass distributions of the selected LSB and HSB samples. Results. At z = 0, LSBGs are typically extended, rotation-supported systems with lower stellar densities, older stellar populations, reduced star formation activity, and higher specific stellar angular momenta (j∗) than their HSBG counterparts. They also exhibit larger radii of maximum circular velocity (Rvmax ). We identified key transition redshifts that mark the divergence of LSBG and HSBG properties: j* diverges at z ∼ 5–7 and Rvmax at z ∼ 2–3. Star formation activity and large-scale environment appear to play only a minimal role in the development of LSB features. Conclusions. LSBGs follow mass-dependent evolutionary pathways, where early rapid formation and later slowdowns, combined with their distinct structural properties, influence their response to external factors (e.g. mergers and gas accretion). Their LSB nature emerges from intrinsic dynamical and structural factors rather than environmental influences, with angular momentum as a key driver of divergence at high redshifts.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/181051
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/181051
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Astronomy & Astrophysics, 701, A272.
1240465/2024
FB210003
CNS2022-135878
PID2022- 138855NB-32
PPIT2024-31833
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555232
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
reponame_str idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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