Understanding the radio luminosity function of star-forming galaxies and its cosmological evolution

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Auteurs principaux: Jose, Charles, Chamandy, Luke, Shukurov, Anvar, Subramanian, Kandaswamy, Rodrigues, Luiz Felippe S., Baugh, Carlton M.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2024
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author Jose, Charles
Chamandy, Luke
Shukurov, Anvar
Subramanian, Kandaswamy
Rodrigues, Luiz Felippe S.
Baugh, Carlton M.
author_facet Jose, Charles
Chamandy, Luke
Shukurov, Anvar
Subramanian, Kandaswamy
Rodrigues, Luiz Felippe S.
Baugh, Carlton M.
contents We explore the redshift evolution of the radio luminosity function (RLF) of star-forming galaxies using GALFORM, a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation and a dynamo model of the magnetic field evolving in a galaxy. Assuming energy equipartition between the magnetic field and cosmic rays, we derive the synchrotron luminosity of each sample galaxy. In a model where the turbulent speed is correlated with the star formation rate, the RLF is in fair agreement with observations in the redshift range $0 \leq z \leq 2$. At larger redshifts, the structure of galaxies, their interstellar matter and turbulence appear to be rather different from those at $z\lesssim2$, so that the turbulence and magnetic field models applicable at low redshifts become inadequate. The strong redshift evolution of the RLF at $0 \leq z \leq 2$ can be attributed to an increased number, at high redshift, of galaxies with large disc volumes and strong magnetic fields. On the other hand, in models where the turbulent speed is a constant or an explicit function of $z$, the observed redshift evolution of the RLF is poorly captured. The evolution of the interstellar turbulence and outflow parameters appear to be major (but not the only) drivers of the RLF changes. We find that both the small- and large-scale magnetic fields contribute to the RLF but the small-scale field dominates at high redshifts. Polarisation observations will therefore be important to distinguish these two components and understand better the evolution of galaxies and their nonthermal constituents.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_15099
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Understanding the radio luminosity function of star-forming galaxies and its cosmological evolution
Jose, Charles
Chamandy, Luke
Shukurov, Anvar
Subramanian, Kandaswamy
Rodrigues, Luiz Felippe S.
Baugh, Carlton M.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
We explore the redshift evolution of the radio luminosity function (RLF) of star-forming galaxies using GALFORM, a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation and a dynamo model of the magnetic field evolving in a galaxy. Assuming energy equipartition between the magnetic field and cosmic rays, we derive the synchrotron luminosity of each sample galaxy. In a model where the turbulent speed is correlated with the star formation rate, the RLF is in fair agreement with observations in the redshift range $0 \leq z \leq 2$. At larger redshifts, the structure of galaxies, their interstellar matter and turbulence appear to be rather different from those at $z\lesssim2$, so that the turbulence and magnetic field models applicable at low redshifts become inadequate. The strong redshift evolution of the RLF at $0 \leq z \leq 2$ can be attributed to an increased number, at high redshift, of galaxies with large disc volumes and strong magnetic fields. On the other hand, in models where the turbulent speed is a constant or an explicit function of $z$, the observed redshift evolution of the RLF is poorly captured. The evolution of the interstellar turbulence and outflow parameters appear to be major (but not the only) drivers of the RLF changes. We find that both the small- and large-scale magnetic fields contribute to the RLF but the small-scale field dominates at high redshifts. Polarisation observations will therefore be important to distinguish these two components and understand better the evolution of galaxies and their nonthermal constituents.
title Understanding the radio luminosity function of star-forming galaxies and its cosmological evolution
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.15099