Estimating Cluster Galaxy Infall Time from Phase Space in TNG

arXiv:2607.20406 · astro-ph.GA · Submitted 2026-07-22 · Read on arXiv

Cameron Lawlor-Forsyth

astro-ph.GA

Submitted: 2026-07-22

Comments: 5 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to OJAp

Code: https://github.com/camlawlorforsyth/tng-galaxyinfall-times

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The gist: Using the TNG300 and TNG-Cluster simulations, phase space-based estimates for galaxy infall time onto clusters with M h 10 14 M are determined for all simulation snapshots with z 1.

Terminology

Abstract

Using the TNG300 and TNG-Cluster simulations, phase space-based estimates for galaxy infall time onto clusters with M h 10 14 M are determined for all simulation snapshots with z 1. These infall time estimates are consistent with previous work in the literature, and can be readily applied to observations of cluster galaxies, where no other estimate is feasible, based only on the galaxy's position in projected phase space. The analysis pipeline used to produce these infall time estimates is publicly released, as are the resulting data products, as well as a tutorial that outlines their use. It is anticipated that both the data products and the provided tutorial will facilitate future research within the community which require infall time estimates, and will provide an additional baseline for studies investigating the orbital histories of galaxies in dense environments like galaxy clusters.

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