The impact of angular momentum on the stellar mass and stellar density of galaxies

Sammanfattning

The current work aims to investigate the impact of angular momentum in galaxy formation especially in the coevolution of the stellar central density (Σ⋆,1.2kpc) and total stellar mass (M⋆). This is achieved by tracing the histories of three simulated halos where the specific angular momentum is altered by modifying the initial conditions of the Lagrangian patch of baryons. The analysis consists of data from a reference galaxy and two cases with increased or decreased angular momentum values for z = 5 to z = 1.95. The evolutionary trajectories of the given simulations in Σ⋆,1.2kpc - M⋆ plot are created. The results show that some hints exist about the emergence of a possible pattern between the slopes of the galactic path close to z = 2. To detect a clear pattern and thus confirm that angular momentum is the reason that drives this trend, the size of the simulation needs to be expanded to lower redshift values. Additionally, the surface density profile for the three halos at z = 1.95 illustrated an indistinguishable behaviour between the corresponding curves, a result that is also reflected in the Σ⋆,1.2kpc - M⋆ plane. This outcome suggests that despite the notable alternations in the galactic evolution, the central region responds in a similar way until z = 1.95.