Stellar archeology: a cosmological view of dwarf galaxies

TL;DR

This paper investigates the origins of dwarf spheroidal galaxies within a cosmological framework by modeling their formation and evolution alongside the Milky Way, explaining their properties through early universe processes.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive cosmological model that links the formation of dwarf spheroidal galaxies to their environment and merging histories, accounting for observed properties.

Findings

Reconstructed merging histories of dSphs and Milky Way.

Explained metallicity distribution functions of metal-poor stars.

Linked dSph properties to high-redshift physical processes.

Abstract

The origin of dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) is investigated in a global cosmological context by simultaneously following the evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy and its dwarf satellites. This approach enable to study the formation of dSphs in their proper birth environment and to reconstruct their own merging histories. The proposed picture simultaneously accounts for several dSph and Milky Way properties, including the Metallicity Distribution Functions of metal-poor stars. The observed features are interpreted in terms of physical processes acting at high redshifts.