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Quantifying the smoothness of the stellar halo: A link to accretion history

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lancaster, L 
Wyn Evans, N 

Abstract

We investigate the utility of the 3-dimensional Two-Point Correlation Function (3D 2PCF) in quantifying substructure in the stellar halo of the Milky Way, particularly as a means of constraining the accretion history of our Galaxy. We use RR Lyrae variable stars from two different surveys as tracers of the structure in the Galactic stellar halo. We compare our measurements of the 3D 2PCF in these datasets to a suite of simulations of the formation of the stellar halo from Bullock and Johnston (2005). While there is some room for interpretation, we find that the amounts of structure to be broadly consistent with the simulations, while appearing smoother than average within the inner halo and at small scales. This suggests a preferred accretion history scenario in which the Milky Way's stellar halo acquired most of its mass about ~8 Gigayears ago, and has been largely quiescent since. Finally, we discuss the prospects of statistical tools such as the 2PCF in the Gaia era of galactic archaeology.

Description

Keywords

Galaxy: formation, Galaxy: halo, Galaxy: structure

Journal Title

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0035-8711
1365-2966

Volume Title

484

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
European Research Council (308024)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/N000927/1)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/S000623/1)