Tracking the evolution of satellite galaxies: mass stripping and dark-matter deficient galaxies

Abstract

ABSTRACT Satellite galaxies undergo a variety of physical processes when they are accreted by groups and clusters, often resulting in the loss of baryonic and dark matter (DM) mass. In this work, we evaluate the predictions from the IllustrisTNG hydrodynamical simulation regarding the evolution of the matter content of satellites, focusing on a population that are accreted at z > 1 and retain their identity as satellites down to z = 0. At fixed host halo mass, the amount of DM and stellar mass stripped depends mostly on the pericentric distance, dperi, here normalized by host halo virial radius. The closest encounters result in significant loss of DM, with subhaloes retaining between 20 and a few per cent of their z = 1 mass. At fixed dperi, DM mass stripping seems more severe in lower mass haloes. Conversely, the average satellite in higher mass haloes has its stellar mass growth halted earlier, having lost a higher fraction of stellar mass by z = 0. We also show that mass stripping has a strong impact on the quenched fractions. The IllustrisTNG boxes are qualitatively consistent in these predictions, with quantitative differences mostly originating from the distinct subhalo mass ranges covered by the boxes. Finally, we have identified DM-deficient systems in all TNG boxes. These objects are preferentially found in massive clusters (Mhost ≳ 1013 M⊙), had very close encounters with their central galaxies ($d_{\rm peri}\simeq 0.05\, R_{\rm vir}$), and were accreted at high redshift (zinfall ≳ 1.4), reinforcing the notion that tidal stripping is responsible for their remarkable lack of DM.