<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>');
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=undefined&type=result"></script>');
-->
</script>
We review the current theory of how galaxies form within the cosmological framework provided by the cold dark matter paradigm for structure formation. Beginning with the pre-galactic evolution of baryonic material we describe the analytical and numerical understanding of how baryons condense into galaxies, what determines the structure of those galaxies and how internal and external processes (including star formation, merging, active galactic nuclei etc.) determine their gross properties and evolution. Throughout, we highlight successes and failings of current galaxy formation theory. We include a review of computational implementations of galaxy formation theory and assess their ability to provide reliable modelling of this complex phenomenon. We finish with a discussion of several "hot topics" in contemporary galaxy formation theory and assess future directions for this field.
58 pages, to appear in Physics Reports. This version includes minor corrections and a handful of additional references
Galactic structure, Galaxy formation, Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO), 500, FOS: Physical sciences, Galaxies, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, 520, Cosmology, Galaxy evolution, Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA), Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Galactic structure, Galaxy formation, Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO), 500, FOS: Physical sciences, Galaxies, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, 520, Cosmology, Galaxy evolution, Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA), Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 282 | |
popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |