Beyond Mass and Multiscale Environments: What Shapes Low Surface Brightness Galaxies? Evidence from MaNGA

TL;DR

This study investigates the origins of low surface brightness galaxies using MaNGA data, finding their structure and star formation are mainly driven by internal processes rather than large-scale environment.

Contribution

It provides evidence that LSB galaxy properties are primarily shaped by internal evolution and assembly history, not large-scale environment or halo mass.

Findings

LSB and HSB galaxies inhabit similar large-scale environments.

LSB galaxies are more isolated on small scales.

LSB galaxies have lower stellar mass density, star formation, and metallicity.

Abstract

The origin of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies remains a key open question in galaxy formation, reflecting the balance internal mechanisms and environmental influence. Using MaNGA integral-field spectroscopy, we investigate whether LSB and high surface brightness (HSB) galaxies of comparable stellar mass ($9 < \log M_\ast < 10$) occupy distinct environments or differ primarily through internal evolution. Our late-type sample comprises 113 central and 29 satellite LSB galaxies, and 374 central and 142 satellite HSB galaxies. We characterize environments on scales from 100 kpc to 10 Mpc, analyzing radial profiles of stellar mass surface density ($\Sigma_\ast$), star formation activity, and gas-phase metallicity. Central LSB and HSB galaxies inhabit similarly low-density large-scale ($>$200 kpc) environments, but LSB galaxies are more isolated on small scales ($\sim$100 kpc). Even after matching in stellar mass and environment, LSB galaxies show systematically lower $\Sigma_\ast$, $\Sigma_{SFR}$, and metallicities, often hosting diffuse, weakly star-forming bulges embedded in extended disks. These results indicate that LSB structure and star formation are not primarily governed by large-scale environment or halo mass. While secondary halo properties such as spin, concentration, or gas accretion history are often invoked, their environmental dependence appears weak. Instead, LSB-HSB differences for centrals likely reflect divergent assembly or interaction histories and internal processes -- such as angular momentum-driven disk evolution or inefficient gas conversion -- largely decoupled from large-scale environment. Nonetheless, environment still influences the observed star formation and chemical differences between central and satellite LSB galaxies.