A semi-analytic model for the evolution of star forming disc galaxies

Esselink, Anna (2025) A semi-analytic model for the evolution of star forming disc galaxies. Master's Thesis / Essay, Astronomy.

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Abstract

We present a radially resolved semi-analytic model for the evolution of star-forming disc galaxies. The model self-consistently includes gas accretion, angular momentum conservation, radial flows, star formation, and an evolving dark matter halo. The free parameters of the model are constrained through MCMC fitting to local scaling relations The model successfully reproduces the local scaling relations. The resulting evolution shows inside-out growth, extended gas discs relative to stars, and star-formation histories peaking near z~2 Comparison with high-z observations reveals mixed agreement. The model underpredicts the evolution of the TFR in massive systems, likely due to underestimated early halo growth, while it more closely matches the evolution of the stellar and baryonic j-M relations. Stellar sizes evolve only modestly in comparison to empirical evolution of the stellar size-mass relation. The star formation main sequence is reproduced qualitatively with elevated high-z SFRs. The model reproduces SHMR at z=0, but shows systematically high stellar-to-halo ratios at high-z compared to the observed evolution. These tensions highlight the need for physically motivated extensions, such as feedback-driven outflows, delayed stellar recycling, and faster early halo growth. Overall, our model captures the first-order evolution of disc galaxy properties across cosmic time and provides constraints on parameters like accretion and angular momentum growth.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay)
Supervisor name:	Fraternali, F. and Rizzo, F.
Degree programme:	Astronomy
Thesis type:	Master's Thesis / Essay
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2025 09:03
Last Modified:	29 Aug 2025 09:03
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/36888

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