Feedback and the formation of dwarf galaxy stellar haloes

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 395; no. 3; pp. 1455 - 1466
• Main Authors: Stinson, G. S., Dalcanton, J. J., Quinn, T., Gogarten, S. M., Kaufmann, T., Wadsley, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 21-05-2009; Wiley-Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; galaxies: evolution; galaxies: formation; methods: N-body simulations; Simulation; Star & galaxy formation; Stars & galaxies; galaxies: formation; galaxies: evolution; body simulations; methods; Galaxy evolution; Galaxy halo; methods: N-body simulations; Accretion; Supernovae; Digital simulation; Smoothed particle hydrodynamics method; N body system; Star formation; Feedback; Galaxy formation; Dwarf galaxies; Stellar population; Models; Stellar activity; Age
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14555.x

Stellar population studies show that low-mass galaxies in all environments exhibit stellar haloes that are older and more spherically distributed than the main body of the galaxy. In some cases, there is a significant intermediate age component that extends beyond the young disc. We examine a suite of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic simulations and find that elevated early star formation activity combined with supernova feedback can produce an extended stellar distribution that resembles these haloes for model galaxies ranging from v200= 15 to 35 km s−1, without the need for accretion of subhaloes.