A comprehensive model for the formation and evolution of the faintest Milky Way dwarf satellites

Understand

In this study, we modify the semi-analytic model Galacticus in order to accurately reproduce the observed properties of dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way.

• We find that reproducing observational determinations of the halo occupation fraction and mass-metallicity relation for dwarf galaxies requires us to include H$_2$ cooling, an updated UV background radiation model, and to introduce a model for the metal content of the intergalactic medium.
• By fine-tuning various model parameters and incorporating empirical constraints, we have tailored the model to match the statistical properties of Milky Way dwarf galaxies, such as their luminosity function and size$-$mass relation.
• We have validated our modified semi-analytic framework by undertaking a comparative analysis of the resulting galaxy-halo connection.