Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Pre-Heating By Pre-Virialization And Its Impact On Galaxy Formation, Hj Mo, Xh Yang, Fc Van Den Bosch, N Katz, I Zehavi, T Tripp, Dv Bowen, Kr Sembach, Eb Jenkins, Bd Savage, P Richter

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We use recent observations of the H i mass function to constrain galaxy formation. The data conflict with the standard model where most of the gas in a low-mass dark matter halo is assumed to settle into a disc of cold gas that is depleted by star formation and supernova-driven outflows until the disc becomes gravitationally stable. Assuming a star formation threshold density supported by both theory and observations, this model predicts H i masses that are much too large. The reason is simple: supernova feedback requires star formation, which in turn requires a high surface density for the gas. …