K-DRIFT Science Theme: New Theoretical Framework Using the Galaxy Replacement Technique for LSB studies

Abstract

Low-surface-brightness (LSB) structures provide critical insights into the hierarchical formation of galaxies and galaxy clusters. The KASI Deep Rolling Imaging Fast Telescope (K-DRIFT) is designed to detect such diffuse features through deep, wide-field optical imaging with a surface brightness reaching $\sim$$30\mathrm{mag}{\mathrm{arcsec}}^{-2}$. To interpret the observation data expected from K-DRIFT, we have developed the Galaxy Replacement Technique (GRT), an $N$-body simulation framework optimized for tracing the gravitational evolution of stellar components. The GRT works by inserting high-resolution galaxy models, including a dark matter (DM) halo and stellar disk, in place of multiple low-resolution DM halos in the base $N$-body cosmological simulation. It allows us to achieve very high mass ($m_{star}=5.4\times10^4\msun\ h^{-1}$) and spatial resolution (10~$\mathrm{pc}{\mathrm{h}}^{-1}$) with shorter computation time compared to full hydrodynamic cosmological simulations. Therefore, this technique is particularly well-suited for studying LSB structures, with a surface brightness reaching $\sim$$31\mathrm{mag}{\mathrm{arcsec}}^{-2}$. In this paper, we present the motivation and methodology of the GRT, summarize key results from previous studies, and highlight its synergy with K-DRIFT observations. We further discuss planned science cases using the GRT, aiming to build a theoretical basis for interpreting LSB features in various environments.

14 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in The Journal of the Korean Astronomical Society, February 27, 2026