Effects of Supernova Feedback on the Formation of Galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses hydrodynamical simulations to explore how supernova feedback influences galaxy formation, affecting star formation regulation, galaxy morphology, angular momentum, and chemical evolution within a cosmological context.

Contribution

It introduces an advanced simulation model including chemical enrichment and energy feedback, demonstrating SN feedback's critical role in galaxy evolution and disk formation.

Findings

SN feedback regulates star formation cycles.

Less massive galaxies are more affected by SN feedback.

The model reproduces mass-dependent effects on galaxy properties.

Abstract

We study the effects of Supernova (SN) feedback on the formation of galaxies using hydrodynamical simulations in a Lambda-CDM cosmology. We use an extended version of the code GADGET-2 which includes chemical enrichment and energy feedback by Type II and Type Ia SN, metal-dependent cooling and a multiphase model for the gas component. We focus on the effects of SN feedback on the star formation process, galaxy morphology, evolution of the specific angular momentum and chemical properties. We find that SN feedback plays a fundamental role in galaxy evolution, producing a self-regulated cycle for star formation, preventing the early consumption of gas and allowing disks to form at late times. The SN feedback model is able to reproduce the expected dependence on virial mass, with less massive systems being more strongly affected.