Constraints on galaxy formation models from the galaxy stellar mass function and its evolution

Luiz Felippe S. Rodrigues, Ian Vernon, Richard Bower

Published 2016-09-22Version 1

We explore the parameter space of the semi-analytic galaxy formation model GALFORM, studying the constraints imposed by measurements of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) and its evolution. We use the Bayesian Emulator method to quickly eliminate vast implausible volumes of the parameter space and zoom in on the most interesting regions, allowing us to identify a set of models that match the observational data within the model uncertainties. We find that the GSMF strongly constrains parameters related to the quiescent star formation in discs, stellar and AGN feedback and the threshold for disc instabilities, but more weakly restricts other parameters. Constraining the model using the local data alone does not usually select models that match the evolution of the mass function well. Nevertheless, we show that a small subset of models provides an acceptable match to GSMF data out to redshift 1.5, without introducing an explicit redshift dependence of feedback parameters. We explore the physical significance of the parameters of these models, in particular exploring whether the model can provide a better description if the mass loading of the galactic winds generated by starbursts ($\beta_{0,\text{burst}}$) and quiescent disks ($\beta_{0,\text{disc}}$) is different. Performing a principal component analysis of the plausible volume of the parameter space, we write a set of relations between parameters obeyed by plausible models with respect to the GSMF evolution. We find that while $\beta_{0,\text{disc}}$ is strongly constrained by GSMF evolution data, constraints on $\beta_{0,\text{burst}}$ are weak. We discuss the implications of these results.