A two-phase model of galaxy formation: II. The size-mass relation of dynamically hot galaxies

Abstract

In Paper-I we developed a two-phase model to connect dynamically hot galaxies (such as ellipticals and bulges) with the formation of self-gravitating gas clouds (SGCs) associated with the fast assembly of dark matter halos. Here we explore the implications of the model for the size-stellar mass relation of dynamically hot galaxies. Star-forming sub-clouds resulting from the fragmentation of the turbulent SGC inherit its spatial structure and dynamical hotness, producing a `homologous' relation, $r_{\mathrm{f}}\approx 100r_{\mathrm{bulge}}$, between the size of a dynamically hot galaxy ($r_{\mathrm{bulge}}$) and that of its host halo assembled in the fast regime ($r_{\mathrm{f}}$), independent of redshift and halo mass. This relation is preserved by the `dry' expansion driven by dynamical heating when a galaxy becomes gas-poor due to inefficient cooling, and is frozen due to the stop of bulge growth during the slow assembly regime of the halo. The size-stellar mass relation is thus a simple combination of the galaxy-halo homology and the non-linear stellar mass-halo mass relation. Using a set of halo assembly histories we reproduce all properties in the observed size-mass relation of dynamically hot galaxies, including the flattening in the low-mass end and the upturn in the massive end. The prediction matches observational data currently available to $z\approx 4$, and can be tested in the future at higher $z$. Our results indicate that the sizes of dynamically hot galaxies are produced by the dissipation and collapse of gas in halos to establish SGCs in which stars form.

11 pages, 5 figures, 1 table; submitted to MNRAS