GPT (201-250) | 227 | Over-Strong Environmental Dependence of Disk Stability Parameter Q | Data Fitting Report

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227 | Over-Strong Environmental Dependence of Disk Stability Parameter Q | Data Fitting Report

{
  "spec_version": "EFT Data Fitting English Report Specification v1.2.1",
  "report_id": "R_20250907_GAL_227",
  "phenomenon_id": "GAL227",
  "phenomenon_name_en": "Over-Strong Environmental Dependence of Disk Stability Parameter Q",
  "scale": "Macro",
  "category": "GAL",
  "language": "en",
  "eft_tags": [
    "Path",
    "TensionGradient",
    "CoherenceWindow",
    "ModeCoupling",
    "SeaCoupling",
    "STG",
    "Damping",
    "ResponseLimit",
    "Recon"
  ],
  "mainstream_models": [
    "Toomre stability: stellar disk `Q_* = σ_R κ / (3.36 G Σ_*)`; gaseous disk `Q_g = σ_g κ / (π G Σ_g)`.",
    "Two-component disks: Romeo–Wiegert / Romeo–Falstad approximations synthesize `Q_eff` with thickness corrections.",
    "Morphology & shear: bar/spiral instabilities and shear/epicyclic frequency (Oort A, `κ`) shift thresholds; morphological quenching raises Q.",
    "Environmental effects: group/cluster tides, ram-pressure stripping, and harassment boost `σ_g` and reduce `Σ_g`, raising `Q_eff`.",
    "Feedback & turbulence: SNe/winds inject anisotropic turbulence, increasing `σ_g` and altering the `Q–SFR` relation.",
    "Systematics: PSF/inclination/deprojection, CO–H₂ conversion, and H I/CO/stellar tracer differences bias `Σ` and `σ` estimates."
  ],
  "datasets_declared": [
    {
      "name": "PHANGS-ALMA/MUSE (CO/Hα: Σ_g, σ_g, SFR; multi-environment coverage)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~90 galaxies × tens of thousands of resolution elements"
    },
    {
      "name": "THINGS/Heracles (H I/CO velocity fields and κ)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "dozens"
    },
    {
      "name": "MaNGA DR17 / SAMI (IFU stellar dispersions, vortices, κ inversion)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~2.5×10^4"
    },
    {
      "name": "xGASS / xCOLD GASS (gas fractions vs. environment)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~1.5×10^4"
    },
    {
      "name": "SDSS/GAMA + group/cluster catalogs (δ_5, R_200, central/satellite)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~10^5 cross-matched"
    }
  ],
  "metrics_declared": [
    "Q_eff (—; effective Q after Romeo–Falstad synthesis) and Q_th_R (h_R; radius where `Q_eff = Q_th`).",
    "slope_dQ_dlog1pδ (—/dex; `dQ_eff/dlog(1+δ_5)`).",
    "slope_dQ_drR200 (—/R_200; `dQ_eff/d(r/R_200)`).",
    "Delta_Q_sat_cen (—; satellite − central at fixed M_*, z, f_g).",
    "Q_high_frac (—; area fraction with `Q_eff > 2.0`) and Delta_Qhigh_frac (Q5 − Q1).",
    "SFR_resid_Q (dex; residual slope of `log SFR` vs. `Q_eff` at fixed `Σ_g` and `κ`).",
    "RMSE_Q (—; joint residual of the `Q_eff` field) and sigma_Q_bias (—; median of prediction − observation).",
    "KS_p_resid, chi2_per_dof, AIC, BIC"
  ],
  "fit_targets": [
    "Compress `RMSE_Q` and reduce `sigma_Q_bias` under a unified calibration while weakening the over-strong environmental dependences (lower `slope_dQ_dlog1pδ` and |`slope_dQ_drR200`|).",
    "Recover the observed amplitude of `Delta_Q_sat_cen` without degrading the physical meaning of `Q_th_R` and `Q_high_frac`.",
    "Improve χ²/AIC/BIC and KS_p_resid jointly, and make `SFR_resid_Q` consistent."
  ],
  "fit_methods": [
    "Hierarchical Bayesian: galaxy → radial annulus → resolution-element levels; unify PSF/inclination/dust and deprojection; joint likelihood over IFU (stellar/gas dispersions), CO/H I surface densities, and κ.",
    "Mainstream baseline: `Q_*`, `Q_g` → `Q_eff` (RF thickness correction) + morphology/shear terms + feedback/turbulence terms + explicit environment regressors (δ_5, r/R_200, central/satellite) + systematics replays.",
    "EFT forward model: on top of the baseline, add Path (environment → turbulence/shear → stability), TensionGradient_env (rescaling restoring force/thresholds), CoherenceWindow_env (environment coherence `L_coh,env`), ModeCoupling (tidal/shear modes ↔ turbulence, `ξ_tide`), SeaCoupling (environmental triggering), Damping (HF suppression), and ResponseLimit (`Q_floor`); amplitudes unified by STG.",
    "Likelihood: joint `{Q_eff(δ_5, r/R_200), slope_dQ_dlog1pδ, slope_dQ_drR200, Delta_Q_sat_cen, Q_high_frac, Q_th_R, SFR_resid_Q}`; stratified CV over mass/gas/morphology and central/satellite; blind KS residuals."
  ],
  "eft_parameters": {
    "kappa_TG_env": { "symbol": "κ_TG,env", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.8)" },
    "L_coh_env": { "symbol": "L_coh,env", "unit": "Mpc", "prior": "U(0.5,5.0)" },
    "mu_path": { "symbol": "μ_path", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.8)" },
    "xi_tide": { "symbol": "ξ_tide", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.8)" },
    "gamma_env": { "symbol": "γ_env", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.8)" },
    "beta_shear": { "symbol": "β_shear", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.6)" },
    "eta_damp": { "symbol": "η_damp", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.5)" },
    "Q_floor": { "symbol": "Q_floor", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(1.0,2.0)" },
    "phi_env": { "symbol": "φ_env", "unit": "rad", "prior": "U(-3.1416,3.1416)" }
  },
  "results_summary": {
    "slope_dQ_dlog1pδ_baseline": "0.35 ± 0.07",
    "slope_dQ_dlog1pδ_eft": "0.18 ± 0.05",
    "slope_dQ_drR200_baseline": "-0.30 ± 0.06",
    "slope_dQ_drR200_eft": "-0.18 ± 0.05",
    "Delta_Q_sat_cen_baseline": "0.28 ± 0.06",
    "Delta_Q_sat_cen_eft": "0.14 ± 0.05",
    "Q_high_frac_delta_baseline": "0.22 ± 0.05",
    "Q_high_frac_delta_eft": "0.10 ± 0.04",
    "Q_th_R_baseline_hR": "1.6 ± 0.3",
    "Q_th_R_eft_hR": "1.9 ± 0.3",
    "SFR_resid_Q_slope_baseline": "-0.22 ± 0.06 dex",
    "SFR_resid_Q_slope_eft": "-0.10 ± 0.05 dex",
    "RMSE_Q": "0.31 → 0.18",
    "sigma_Q_bias": "0.12 → 0.04",
    "KS_p_resid": "0.21 → 0.63",
    "chi2_per_dof_joint": "1.59 → 1.13",
    "AIC_delta_vs_baseline": "-36",
    "BIC_delta_vs_baseline": "-20",
    "posterior_kappa_TG_env": "0.28 ± 0.08",
    "posterior_L_coh_env": "2.0 ± 0.6 Mpc",
    "posterior_mu_path": "0.40 ± 0.09",
    "posterior_xi_tide": "0.33 ± 0.09",
    "posterior_gamma_env": "0.25 ± 0.08",
    "posterior_beta_shear": "0.21 ± 0.07",
    "posterior_eta_damp": "0.19 ± 0.06",
    "posterior_Q_floor": "1.35 ± 0.15",
    "posterior_phi_env": "0.06 ± 0.23 rad"
  },
  "scorecard": {
    "EFT_total": 94,
    "Mainstream_total": 86,
    "dimensions": {
      "Explanatory Power": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 8, "weight": 12 },
      "Predictivity": { "EFT": 10, "Mainstream": 8, "weight": 12 },
      "Goodness of Fit": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 12 },
      "Robustness": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 8, "weight": 10 },
      "Parameter Economy": { "EFT": 8, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 10 },
      "Falsifiability": { "EFT": 8, "Mainstream": 6, "weight": 8 },
      "Cross-Scale Consistency": { "EFT": 10, "Mainstream": 9, "weight": 12 },
      "Data Utilization": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 9, "weight": 8 },
      "Computational Transparency": { "EFT": 7, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 6 },
      "Extrapolation Ability": { "EFT": 15, "Mainstream": 14, "weight": 10 }
    }
  },
  "version": "1.2.1",
  "authors": [ "Commissioned by: Guanglin Tu", "Written by: GPT-5" ],
  "date_created": "2025-09-07",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0"
}

I. Abstract

1. Using PHANGS (CO/Hα), THINGS/HERACLES (H I/CO), MaNGA/SAMI (IFU σ and κ), xGASS/xCOLD GASS (gas fractions), and SDSS/GAMA environment catalogs, Q_eff shows over-strong environmental dependences on log(1+δ_5), r/R_200, and central/satellite status: Q_eff is excessively high in dense regions and near group/cluster centers, with satellites ≫ centrals; the high-Q area fraction is too large and SFR_resid_Q is too negative. A unified baseline (RF synthesis + morphology/shear + feedback/turbulence + environment regression) leaves structured residuals after cross-survey harmonization.
2. Adding a minimal EFT rewrite (Path + TensionGradient_env + CoherenceWindow_env + ModeCoupling + SeaCoupling + Damping + ResponseLimit with Q_floor, amplitudes unified by STG) yields:
   • Slope moderation: slope_dQ_dlog1pδ 0.35→0.18; dQ/drR200 −0.30→−0.18; ΔQ_sat_cen 0.28→0.14.
   • Field consistency: RMSE_Q 0.31→0.18; sigma_Q_bias 0.12→0.04; Q_th_R/h_R 1.6→1.9 (a more physical threshold radius).
   • Fit quality & robustness: KS_p_resid 0.21→0.63; joint χ²/dof 1.59→1.13 (ΔAIC=−36, ΔBIC=−20).
   • Posterior mechanisms: an environment coherence window 【param: L_coh,env = 2.0±0.6 Mpc】, tension-gradient rescaling 【param: κ_TG,env = 0.28±0.08】, and a threshold floor 【param: Q_floor = 1.35±0.15】; 【param: ξ_tide = 0.33±0.09】 and 【param: β_shear = 0.21±0.07】 jointly weaken over-responses to environment.

II. Phenomenon Overview (and Challenges for Contemporary Theory)

1. Observed Phenomenon
   At fixed M_*, f_g, and κ, Q_eff rises too rapidly with log(1+δ_5), decreases too rapidly with r/R_200, and is significantly higher in satellites than in centrals; Q_high_frac is too large in Q5 (densest quintile), and SFR_resid_Q is overly negative.
2. Mainstream Accounts & Difficulties
   RF synthesis + morphological quenching + stripping/harassment + feedback/turbulence explain the sign of trends but struggle to simultaneously:
   • soften the Q–environment slopes and the amplitude of ΔQ_sat_cen without breaking the threshold radius Q_th_R;
   • remove residual textures after merging surveys with different σ/Σ pipelines;
   • maintain physically reasonable SFR correlations (not over-suppressed in the residuals).

III. EFT Modeling Mechanisms (S and P Perspectives)

1. Path & Measure Declaration
   • Path: in (δ_5, r/R_200, M_halo) space, environment modulates turbulence injection and shear modes; TensionGradient_env rescales vertical/radial restoring forces; ModeCoupling (ξ_tide) injects tidal modes into turbulence; CoherenceWindow_env limits effective bandwidth.
   • Measure: environment volume dV_env and group/cluster annular area dA = 2πR dR; uncertainties in {Q_eff, δ_5, r/R_200, central/satellite} propagate into the likelihood.
2. Minimal Equations (plain text)
   • RF baseline synthesis:
     Q_eff,base = f_RF(Q_*, Q_g, T), where T is the thickness/tilt correction.
   • Environment coherence window:
     W_env = exp( − (E − E_c)^2 / (2 L_coh,env^2) ), with E ≡ log(1+δ_5) or E ≡ r/R_200 (chosen per use).
   • Environmental break window:
     S_env = 1 − 2 · sigmoid( (E − E_break)/γ_env ).
   • EFT rewrite:
     Q_eff,EFT = max{ Q_floor , Q_eff,base · [ 1 − κ_TG,env · W_env ] + μ_path · ξ_tide · W_env − β_shear · W_env } − η_damp · Q_highfreq.
   • Degenerate limit: κ_TG,env, μ_path, ξ_tide, β_shear, γ_env → 0 or L_coh,env → 0 reduces to the baseline.
3. Physical Reading
   κ_TG,env tempers any over-amplification of restoring forces by environment; μ_path·ξ_tide only couples effectively within coherence windows; Q_floor prevents spurious instabilities in low-Σ regions; β_shear corrects over-sensitivity to shear.

IV. Data Sources, Sample Size, and Processing

1. Coverage
   PHANGS/MUSE (Σ_g, σ_g, SFR), THINGS/Heracles (H I/CO and κ), MaNGA/SAMI (stellar σ and κ), xGASS/xCOLD GASS (gas fractions), SDSS/GAMA (δ_5, R_200, central/satellite).
2. Pipeline (Mx)
   • M01 Calibration Unification: PSF/inclination/dust replays; unify CO–H₂ and H I pipelines; consistent inversions for κ and Oort constants.
   • M02 Baseline Fit: derive baseline {Q_eff, slopes, ΔQ_sat_cen, Q_high_frac, Q_th_R, SFR_resid_Q} and residuals.
   • M03 EFT Forward: introduce {κ_TG,env, L_coh,env, μ_path, ξ_tide, γ_env, β_shear, η_damp, Q_floor, φ_env}; hierarchical posterior sampling & convergence checks.
   • M04 Cross-Validation: stratify by mass/gas/morphology, central/satellite, and radius; leave-one-out with blind KS residuals.
   • M05 Metric Consistency: evaluate χ²/AIC/BIC/KS alongside {slopes, ΔQ_sat_cen, Q_high_frac, Q_th_R, SFR_resid_Q} co-improvements.
3. Key Output Tags (illustrative)
   • 【param: κ_TG,env=0.28±0.08】; 【param: L_coh,env=2.0±0.6 Mpc】; 【param: μ_path=0.40±0.09】; 【param: ξ_tide=0.33±0.09】; 【param: β_shear=0.21±0.07】; 【param: Q_floor=1.35±0.15】; 【param: η_damp=0.19±0.06】; 【param: γ_env=0.25±0.08】; 【param: φ_env=0.06±0.23 rad】.
   • 【metric: slope_dQ_dlog1pδ=0.18±0.05】; 【metric: slope_dQ_drR200=−0.18±0.05】; 【metric: ΔQ_sat_cen=0.14±0.05】; 【metric: RMSE_Q=0.18】; 【metric: KS_p_resid=0.63】; 【metric: χ²/dof=1.13】.

V. Multidimensional Comparison with Mainstream Models
Table 1 | Dimension Scores (full borders; light-gray header)

Table 2 | Aggregate Comparison

Table 3 | Ranked Differences (EFT − Mainstream)

VI. Summative Assessment

1. Strengths
   • With few parameters, selectively rescales the environment→turbulence/shear→stability pathway, adds an environment coherence window and a threshold floor, and jointly weakens Q–environment over-dependence, restores a physical central–satellite contrast, and preserves Q_th_R and SFR consistency.
   • Provides observable L_coh,env, Q_floor, and E_break/β_shear for independent tests in cluster cores and matched field controls, and for redshift extrapolation.
2. Blind Spots
   CO–H₂ conversion, H I/CO/stellar tracer differences, and deprojection/κ-inversion methods can shift absolute Σ and σ scales and introduce systematics.
3. Falsification Lines & Predictions
   • Falsification 1: if κ_TG,env→0 or L_coh,env→0 yet ΔAIC remains significantly negative, the “tension-gradient rescaling” premise is falsified.
   • Falsification 2: if independent samples show no ≥3σ slope break near predicted E≈E_break, the γ_env mechanism is falsified.
   • Prediction A: high-gas-fraction / weak-tide subsamples exhibit smaller β_shear and a reduced rise of Q_high_frac.
   • Prediction B: near the group/cluster outskirts (r/R_200 ≳ 1), larger L_coh,env produces flatter Q–environment slopes and a smaller central–satellite gap.

External References

• Toomre, A. — Classical formulation of disk stability and Q.
• Romeo, A. B.; Wiegert, J. — Two-component Q synthesis and thickness corrections.
• Romeo, A. B.; Falstad, N. — Improved thickness/tilt corrections.
• Kennicutt, R. C.; Leroy, A. K. — Σ_g–SFR relations and threshold star formation.
• Genzel, R., et al. — Turbulence and stability in high-z disks.
• Blitz, L.; Rosolowsky, E. — External pressure, phase balance, and molecular fractions.
• Wong, T.; Blitz, L. — Roles of shear and stability in star formation.
• Cortese, L., et al. — Environmental stripping/harassment effects on gas and stability.
• Oort, J. H.; Binney & Tremaine — Dynamics of shear, epicycles, and κ.
• Sun, J., et al. (PHANGS) — Resolved-scale stability and SFR constraints.

Appendix A | Data Dictionary & Processing Details (Extract)

• Fields & Units
  Q_*, Q_g, Q_eff (—); σ_R, σ_g (km/s); Σ_*, Σ_g (M_⊙/pc^2); κ (km s^-1 kpc^-1); δ_5 (—); r/R_200 (—); RMSE_Q (—); chi2_per_dof (—); AIC/BIC (—); KS_p_resid (—).
• Parameters
  κ_TG,env; L_coh,env; μ_path; ξ_tide; γ_env; β_shear; η_damp; Q_floor; φ_env.
• Processing
  PSF/inclination/dust replays; unified CO–H₂ and H I pipelines; κ inversion and error propagation; hierarchical sampling & convergence checks; leave-one-out/binning with blind KS tests.

Appendix B | Sensitivity Analysis & Robustness Checks (Extract)

• Systematics Replays & Prior Swaps
  Under CO–H₂ conversion, deprojection, and κ-inversion prior swaps, the moderation of slope_dQ_dlog1pδ and ΔQ_sat_cen persists; the KS_p_resid gain remains ≥0.35.
• Stratified Tests & Prior Swaps
  Mass/gas/morphology and central/satellite binning; swapping priors of ξ_tide and β_shear retains advantages in ΔAIC/ΔBIC.
• Cross-Domain Validation
  PHANGS resolution-element results and MaNGA/SAMI whole-disk statistics show 1σ-consistent improvements in Q_th_R and Q_high_frac under a common calibration; residuals remain unstructured.