2023RNAAS...7..124R

The formation of ultra diffuse satellite galaxies (UDSGs) within Λ CDM cosmology is a key area of study in theoretical galaxy formation because current models struggle to produce low-mass galaxies with a wide variety of morphologies. We identified 16 UDSGs around 8 Milky Way-mass hosts in the FIRE-2 simulations based on their large sizes in comparison to typical satellites. We selected an analogue of the observed Milky Way UDSG Antlia II in the stellar mass range 10^6–6.5 M_⊙ for further study. The analogue likely underwent a tidal shock near its first pericenter passage as it came within <10 kpc of its host. The analogue galaxy subsequently experienced significant tidal stripping of its dark matter and puffing up of its stellar distribution, causing it to transform into an UDSG.