Identifying Mergers Using Quantitative Morphologies in Zoom Simulations of High-Redshift Galaxies

Understand

Non-parametric morphology measures are a powerful tool for identifying galaxy mergers at low redshifts.

• We employ cosmological zoom simulations using Gizmo with the Mufasa feedback scheme, post-processed using 3D dust radiative transfer into mock observations, to study whether common morphological measures Gini G, M20, concentration C, and asymmetry A are effective at identifying major galaxy mergers at z ~ 2 - 4, i.e.
• "Cosmic Noon".
• Our zoom suite covers galaxies with 10^8.6 < M_* < 10^11 M_sun at z ~ 2, and broadly reproduces key global galaxy observations.