Modelling Low-Mass Star-Forming Galaxies and Determining Galaxy Stellar Mass Function and Star-Forming Rate Density in Simulations

Detecting and characterizing the low-mass galaxy population is at the frontier of astrophysics research. The observational measurements are particularly challenging because of the typical low surface brightness (SB) of dwarf galaxies. In order to overcome the difficulties and to set a reference to the observational measurements, the latest high-resolution simulations will be made use of in this research. The primary aims of this proposal are: to obtain definitive measurements of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) to the lowest possible masses, and the star-formation rate
density (SFRD) as a function of mass, and to compare with cosmological-scale observations of field dwarf galaxies using the latest and upcoming surveys. This will test the physics of galaxy formation and evolution in a new regime.