The impact of quenching on galaxy profiles in the Simba simulation

TL;DR

This study uses the Simba simulation to analyze galaxy star formation and gas profiles, revealing successes and discrepancies in modeling quenching processes, especially the role of black hole X-ray feedback.

Contribution

It demonstrates Simba's ability to reproduce central sSFR depressions in green valley galaxies and highlights the impact of black hole X-ray feedback on galaxy profiles.

Findings

Simba's galaxy sizes at z=0 match observations for star-forming galaxies.

Central sSFR depressions are caused by black hole X-ray feedback.

Discrepancies remain in low-redshift green valley galaxy profiles.

Abstract

We study specific star formation rate (sSFR) and gas profiles of star forming and green valley galaxies in the Simba cosmological hydrodynamic simulation. Star-forming galaxy half-light radii ($R_{\rm half}$) at $z=0$ and their evolution ($\propto(1+z)^{-0.78}$) agree with observations. Passive galaxy $R_{\rm half}$ agree with observations at high redshift, but by $z=0$ are too large, owing to numerical heating. We compare Simba $z=0$ sSFR radial profiles for star forming and green valley galaxies to observations. Simba shows strong central depressions in star formation rate (SFR), sSFR, and gas fraction in green valley galaxies and massive star-forming systems, qualitatively as observed, owing to black hole X-ray feedback, which pushes central gas outwards. Turning off X-ray feedback leads to centrally peaked sSFR profiles as in other simulations. In conflict with observations, Simba yields green valley galaxies with strongly dropping sSFR profiles beyond $\gtrsim R_{\rm half}$, regardless of AGN feedback. The central depression owes to lowering molecular gas content; the drop in the outskirts owes to reduced star formation efficiency. Simba's satellites have higher central sSFR and lower outskirts sSFR than centrals, in qualitative agreement with observations. At $z=2$ Simba does not show central depressions in massive star-forming galaxies, suggesting Simba's X-ray feedback should be more active at high-$z$. High resolution tests indicate central sSFR suppression is not sensitive to numerical resolution. Reproducing the central sSFR depression in $z=0$ green valley galaxies represents a unique success of Simba. The remaining discrepancies highlight the importance of SFR and gas profiles in constraining quenching mechanisms.