SDSSRC3 sample morphological classifications

The models qualitatively reproduce the observed increase of elliptical fraction with stellar mass, and with halo mass for central galaxies, supporting the idea that observed ellipticals form during major mergers. However, the overall elliptical fraction produced by the models is much too high compared with the z~0 data. Since the 'passive' - i.e. non-star-forming - fractions are approximately reproduced, and since the fraction which are star-forming disc galaxies is also reproduced, the problem is that the models overproduce ellipticals at the expense of passive S0 and spiral galaxies.

Bulge growth implementations (tuned to reproduce simulations) which allow the survival of residual discs in major mergers still destroy too much of the disc. Increasing the lifetime of satellites, or allowing significant disc regrowth around merger remnants, merely increases the fraction of star-forming disc galaxies. Instead, it seems necessary to reduce the mass ratios of merging galaxies, so that most mergers produce modest bulge growth in disc galaxy remnants instead of ellipticals.

This could be a natural consequence of tidal stripping of stars from infalling satellite galaxies, a process not considered in our models. However, a high efficiency of quenching during and/or subsequent to minor mergers is still required to keep the passive fraction high.