IllustrisTNG + Cosmic Rays with a Simple Transport Model: From Dwarfs to L$^\star$ Galaxies

Abstract

We use a simple model for cosmic ray (CR) production and transport to assess the impact of CRs on $z$\,$=$\,$0$ galaxy, circumgalactic medium (CGM), and halo properties. To do so, we run the first suite of large-volume cosmological magnetohydrodynamical simulations (25\,Mpc\,h$^{-1}$ boxes) with the IllustrisTNG galaxy formation model including CR physics. We select CR transport parameters that yield a reasonable trade off between realistic large-scale integrated properties, and galactic CR pressure profiles predicted by more complex models. The resulting simulations show that, at fixed halo mass, including CRs does not strongly impact the temperature, density, or (total) pressure structure of the CGM with respect to the fiducial TNG model. However, cosmic rays add significant non-thermal pressure support to the halo. This suppresses the star formation activity and thus stellar masses of galaxies, from dwarf to L$^\star$ halos. The cosmic star formation rate density, stellar mass function, and stellar mass to halo mass relation are all reshaped by CRs. Galaxy sizes and halo-scale gas fractions are more mildly affected, while lower gas densities in the interstellar medium inhibit supermassive black hole growth. Halo gas is also less magnetized, and less metal enriched. These differences are primarily driven by suppressed gas accretion onto halos and galaxies, as well as weaker galactic outflows in the presence of CRs. Our findings are in qualitative agreement with previous studies of the impact of CRs on galactic outflows, and motivate the inclusion of CR physics in future large-scale cosmological simulations.