Effects of metal enrichment and metal cooling in galaxy growth and cosmic star formation history

Abstract

We present the results of a numerical study on the effects of metal enrichment and metal cooling on galaxy formation and cosmic star formation (SF) history using cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. We find the following differences in the simulation with metal cooling when compared to the run without it: (i) the cosmic star formation rate is enhanced by about 50 and 20 per cent at z= 1 and 3, respectively; (ii) the gas mass fraction in galaxies is lower; (iii) the total baryonic mass function (gas + star) at z= 3 does not differ significantly, but shows an increase in the number of relatively massive galaxies at z= 1 and (4) the baryonic mass fraction of intergalactic medium (IGM) is reduced at z < 3 due to more efficient cooling and gas accretion on to galaxies. Our results suggest that the metal cooling enhances the galaxy growth by two different mechanisms: (i) increase in SF efficiency in the local interstellar medium and (ii) increase in IGM accretion on to galaxies. The former process is effective throughout most of the cosmic history, while the latter is effective only at z < 3 when the IGM is sufficiently enriched by metals owing to feedback.