The EAGLE project: Simulating the evolution and assembly of galaxies and their environments
read the original abstract
We introduce the Virgo Consortium's EAGLE project, a suite of hydrodynamical simulations that follow the formation of galaxies and black holes in representative volumes. We discuss the limitations of such simulations in light of their finite resolution and poorly constrained subgrid physics, and how these affect their predictive power. One major improvement is our treatment of feedback from massive stars and AGN in which thermal energy is injected into the gas without the need to turn off cooling or hydrodynamical forces, allowing winds to develop without predetermined speed or mass loading factors. Because the feedback efficiencies cannot be predicted from first principles, we calibrate them to the z~0 galaxy stellar mass function and the amplitude of the galaxy-central black hole mass relation, also taking galaxy sizes into account. The observed galaxy mass function is reproduced to $\lesssim 0.2$ dex over the full mass range, $10^8 < M_*/M_\odot \lesssim 10^{11}$, a level of agreement close to that attained by semi-analytic models, and unprecedented for hydrodynamical simulations. We compare our results to a representative set of low-redshift observables not considered in the calibration, and find good agreement with the observed galaxy specific star formation rates, passive fractions, Tully-Fisher relation, total stellar luminosities of galaxy clusters, and column density distributions of intergalactic CIV and OVI. While the mass-metallicity relations for gas and stars are consistent with observations for $M_* \gtrsim 10^9 M_\odot$, they are insufficiently steep at lower masses. The gas fractions and temperatures are too high for clusters of galaxies, but for groups these discrepancies can be resolved by adopting a higher heating temperature in the subgrid prescription for AGN feedback. EAGLE constitutes a valuable new resource for studies of galaxy formation.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
Forward citations
Cited by 30 Pith papers
-
Too shy to spin? Cosmic wallflowers as proto-globular clusters
Simulation study proposes that weakly rotating, gas-rich cosmic wallflowers at high redshift are natural proto-globular cluster candidates based on kinematics and densities.
-
JWST resolves jet-driven H2 and ionized outflows in radio galaxy 3C305
JWST data on 3C305 shows the compact radio jet efficiently drives kiloparsec-scale multiphase outflows via shocks, with high coupling to the observed gas kinetic power and radiative losses.
-
IllustrisTNG50 angular momentum maps: tracing the morpho-kinematic evolution of galaxies
TNG50 stellar disks are grouped into four j-types from sAM surface density maps, revealing a redshift-dependent sequence from irregular to barred forms driven by gas content and V/σ.
-
JWST absorption line spectroscopy with SPURS: ISM covering fractions and kinematics in individual galaxies at $z=5-9$
JWST spectra of six z=5-9 galaxies show low-ionization covering fractions of 0.2-0.9 and diverse kinematics including blueshifted outflows, indicating heterogeneous multiphase ISM.
-
A Measurement of the Thermal and Ionization State of the IGM at $z < 0.5$
Low-redshift IGM measured to be extremely hot (T0 ≈ 28,000 K) and nearly isothermal at z=0.1, with Gamma_HI lower than UV-background models, possibly due to 15 km/s turbulence.
-
Realistic simulations of galaxy formation in f(R) modified gravity
Hydrodynamical simulations in f(R) gravity using Illustris-TNG find observable 20% effects on high-z HI and stellar power spectra exceeding SKA errors, plus changes in disc galaxy formation.
-
Assembly bias and the redshift evolution of intrinsic alignments for LRGs
FLAMINGO simulation analysis shows IA amplitude for LRGs depends on halo assembly history and exhibits redshift evolution beyond mass effects, yielding an empirical mass-redshift model.
-
Introducing AuriGLOBES: the effect of compressive tides, compact object-induced mass loss, and size evolution on modelling globular clusters
AuriGLOBES is a new subgrid model implemented in Auriga simulations that incorporates compressive tides and compact-object mass loss to transform an initial Schechter mass function into observed globular cluster popul...
-
Directional dark matter signatures of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Auriga simulations show the LMC induces azimuthal anisotropies in directional DM recoils that enhance discovery prospects relative to the Standard Halo Model.
-
Learning the Universe with cosmological rescaling of merger trees and semi-analytic galaxy formation models
Rescaling merger trees with a halo-profile correction enables cheap generation of galaxy summary statistics across cosmologies using semi-analytic models, matching dedicated simulation accuracy with far fewer base runs.
-
Learning the Universe with PRFM-vol: Introducing a new subgrid model for star formation in cosmological simulations
PRFM-vol is a new subgrid star formation model for cosmological simulations that computes SFR from ambient densities via PRFM theory and a modified effective EOS, producing taller stellar scale heights, slightly highe...
-
The Manticore Project II: Bayesian digital twins of cosmic structure across the SDSS and BOSS volumes
Manticore-Deep uses tiled Bayesian field-level inference on SDSS and BOSS data to produce posterior ensembles of 3D cosmic fields that are consistent with LCDM and validated by 7.4σ CMB lensing and 3.5σ kSZ detections.
-
Galaxy morphology dependent (black hole mass)-(velocity dispersion) relations: implications for gravitational wave forecasts and cosmological simulations
Morphology-dependent M_bh-σ0 relations are reported: shallow (2.5-3.1) for dust-poor S0 galaxies and steep (7.8) for massive ellipticals, using new SCOPE Bayesian regression on 137 galaxies.
-
Dust destruction signals shock-accelerated outflows in the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068
Line ratio diagnostics in NGC 1068 indicate AGN outflows are shock-accelerated, with outflowing gas dust-free and 19-110 times denser than disk gas.
-
When bars and spirals conspire: recurrent build-up of the nuclear regions of disc galaxies
N-body+hydro simulation of an isolated Milky Way-like galaxy shows bar-spiral reconnections produce episodic star formation bursts in nuclear stellar discs and clusters after the initial bar-driven burst.
-
On the later evolution of observationally selected protocluster candidates at $z\,{\gtrsim}\,5$
Simulations show observationally selected protocluster candidates at z ≳ 5 include significant interlopers, undergo 2-6 major mergers, and exhibit stronger clustering than observed, requiring total galaxy mass within ...
-
JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) Data Release 5: stellar population catalogue for galaxies in GOODS-N and GOODS-S
JADES DR5 delivers a public catalog of Bayesian-inferred stellar masses, SFRs, SFHs, dust, metallicities, and AGN contributions for ~500k galaxies via Prospector with an evolving SFMS prior.
-
Co-evolution of Supermassive Black Holes and their Host L* galaxies: implications for Milky Way and M31
ARTEMIS and EAGLE simulations classify L* galaxies by central BH-to-stellar-mass ratio and trace how merger history drives divergence in BH growth, star formation, and morphology, offering an explanation for the obser...
-
Probing the faint end of simulated galaxy counts at z>3
TNG100 and EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations underproduce faint compact galaxies at z>3 relative to CANDELS observations even after forward modeling and completeness corrections, with the mismatch linked to both detect...
-
Probing the faint end of simulated galaxy counts at z>3
Hydrodynamical simulations underproduce faint compact galaxies at z>3 relative to CANDELS data, with the mismatch persisting after completeness corrections and pointing to deficiencies in star formation and feedback modeling.
-
One Merge to Rule Them All: From Galaxy Interactions to Black Hole Mergers Using Horizon-AGN
Horizon-AGN shows galaxy and black hole merger rates both rise with stellar mass and fall with redshift, peaking near z=2-3, establishing a direct evolutionary link from galaxy interactions to black hole coalescences.
-
The contribution from small scales on two-point shear analysis: comparison between power spectrum and correlation function
Harmonic-space cosmic shear analysis yields 2-3 times smaller model-choice biases in S8 than real-space analysis when pushing to small scales, with BACCO emulator plus TATT model giving the most consistent constraints...
-
Dust destruction signals shock-accelerated outflows in the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068
Line ratio diagnostics in NGC 1068 indicate that AGN outflows are accelerated by shocks that destroy dust and compress gas.
-
Resolved Ages and Stellar Metallicities in Progenitors of Milky Way Analogs: A Closer Look at their Star Formation Histories since $z=5$
Resolved stellar property gradients in Milky Way analog progenitors show inside-out assembly with minor, temporary disruption from major mergers.
-
Mapping the star formation peak with LIGO A# and Next-Generation detectors
Simulations show LIGO-A# constrains the peak redshift of binary black hole merger rate (tracing star formation) to ±0.1 in one year, improving to ±0.02 with next-generation detectors.
-
The Road to Identifying the Earliest Radio-Powerful AGN with the SKA
Synthesizes simulation predictions and pathfinder data to outline a broadband radio SED and spectral curvature strategy for identifying the earliest radio AGN with the SKA.
-
Can current models predict the local black hole merger rate?
Theoretical predictions for local BBH merger rates exceed observations by a factor >10 under conservative SFRD and metallicity assumptions, indicating need for revisions in stellar evolution.
-
Interpreting "Interpretability" and Explaining "Explainability" in Machine Learning in Physics
The paper defines interpretability as model structural transparency and explainability as scientific content mapping, discusses their trade-offs, and frames both as deliberate modeling choices for ML in physics.
-
Cosmological Galaxy Formation Modelling in the Era of the Square Kilometre Array
Review of state-of-the-art cosmological galaxy formation models for HI, molecular gas and radio continuum in preparation for SKA, advocating coordinated multi-scale simulations, forward modelling and AI emulators.
-
Unification models of Active Galactic Nuclei
Overview chapter summarizing traditional orientation-based and radiation-regulated unification models for AGN, including evolutionary aspects and changing-look AGN.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.