EMERGE: Empirical predictions of galaxy merger rates since $z\sim6$

Understand

We explore the galaxy-galaxy merger rate with the empirical model for galaxy formation, Emerge.

• On average, we find that between $2$ per cent and $20$ per cent of massive galaxies ($\log_{10}(m_{*}/M_{\odot}) \geq 10.3$) will experience a major merger per Gyr.
• Our model predicts galaxy merger rates that do not scale as a power-law with redshift when selected by descendant stellar mass, and exhibit a clear stellar mass and mass-ratio dependence.
• Specifically, major mergers are more frequent at high masses and at low redshift.