Satellite Ecology: The Dearth of Environment Dependence
Frank C. van den Bosch, Anna Pasquali, Xiaohu Yang, H.J. Mo, Simone, Weinmann, Daniel H. McIntosh, Daniel Aquino

TL;DR
This study shows that satellite galaxy properties are primarily determined by their stellar mass, with minimal dependence on environment, suggesting that transformation processes are environment-independent.
Contribution
It provides evidence that satellite galaxy characteristics are mainly driven by stellar mass, challenging previous assumptions about environment-driven transformations.
Findings
Satellite galaxy colours and concentrations depend mainly on stellar mass.
No significant dependence of satellite properties on halo mass or radius.
Galaxies transform upon becoming satellites, regardless of environment.
Abstract
Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) galaxy group catalogue of Yang et al. (2007), we study the average colour and average concentration of satellite galaxies as function of (i) their stellar mass, (ii) their group mass, and (iii) their group-centric radius. We find that the colours and concentrations of satellite galaxies are (almost) completely determined by their stellar mass. In particular, at fixed stellar mass, the average colours and concentrations of satellite galaxies are independent of either halo mass or halo-centric radius. We find clear evidence for mass segregation of satellite galaxies in haloes of all masses, and argue that this explains why satellites at smaller halo-centric radii are somewhat redder and somewhat more concentrated. In addition, the weak colour and concentration dependence of satellite galaxies on halo mass is simply a reflection of the fact that…
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Taxonomy
TopicsGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena · Remote Sensing in Agriculture · Impact of Light on Environment and Health
