It is stated in one of the cookbooks that when plotting subhalo mass over snapshot number when a dip occurs in the plot this is a signature of a merger occurring. For all cases I have witnessed - this dip is always downward. When two subhalos are merging - wouldn't it be intuitive for the dip to be upward because the system is gaining mass? Clarification on this would be appreciated!
Dylan Nelson
12 Jan
There are both physical and numerical reasons why the mass history of a subhalo experiences declines, increases, and/or sharp spikes, particularly around the time of a merger. There are some examples etc discussed in Rodriguez-Gomez+ (2015).
It is stated in one of the cookbooks that when plotting subhalo mass over snapshot number when a dip occurs in the plot this is a signature of a merger occurring. For all cases I have witnessed - this dip is always downward. When two subhalos are merging - wouldn't it be intuitive for the dip to be upward because the system is gaining mass? Clarification on this would be appreciated!
There are both physical and numerical reasons why the mass history of a subhalo experiences declines, increases, and/or sharp spikes, particularly around the time of a merger. There are some examples etc discussed in Rodriguez-Gomez+ (2015).