The origin of the stellar mass-size relation of satellite galaxies in the COLIBRE simulations

Abstract

We study the stellar mass-size relation of satellite galaxies in the COLIBRE suite of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. Satellites deviate from the relation that holds for centrals galaxies, where at the high mass end, $\log (M_*/{\rm M}_\odot) > 10.5$, sizes (defined as the 3D half-mass radius $r_{\rm h,*}$) increase systematically with mass ($r_{\rm h,*} \propto M_*^{0.5}$), whereas at lower masses, $8 < \log(M_*/{\rm M}_\odot) < 10.5$, the relation flattens and galaxy size becomes, on average, almost independent of mass ($r_{\rm h,*} \approx 3$ kpc). At $z=0$, dwarf satellites (defined as those with $8 < \log(M_*/{\rm M}_\odot) < 9$) are systematically larger than centrals of similar $M_*$. This trend reverses for bright satellites ($9 < \log(M_*/{\rm M}_\odot) < 10.5$), which are typically smaller than centrals of similar mass. We trace these trends to evolutionary processes affecting satellites after infall into the haloes of more massive hosts. At infall, dwarf satellites are typically gas-rich, dark matter-dominated systems with relatively large baryon-induced cores. These satellites quench rapidly after losing their gas to ram pressure, which prompts an immediate impulsive expansion due to the shallowing central potential, followed by secular expansion as their cored dark matter haloes are gradually stripped by tides. In contrast, the inner regions of bright satellites are baryon-dominated and resilient to tides. Centrally concentrated star formation increases their stellar mass, leading to smaller sizes and higher stellar metallicities (by $\approx 0.2$ dex) than those of centrals of similar mass. These distinct satellite evolutionary pathways lead to identifiable features in the mass-size-metallicity relations that may be compared with observations.