Abstract:
Semi-analytical models (SAMs) have served as a cornerstone in galaxy formation and evolution studies, providing computationally efficient and physics-motivated prescriptions to evolve galaxies within the hierarchical framework of dark matter halos. These models have been particularly valuable for interpreting multi-wavelength observations and testing theoretical scenarios across cosmic time. While historically invaluable, SAMs now face new challenges: they currently lack the ab initio physical treatment of modern hydrodynamical simulations, while simultaneously falling short of the statistical accuracy achieved by data-driven empirical approaches. In this talk, I will first review the development of semi-analytical galaxy formation models from White & Rees (1978) to the present day. Then, I will highlight the unique advantages of SAMs compared to other methods. Finally, I will introduce GALFORM++, our next-generation semi-analytical model currently in development, designed with enhanced flexibility and extensibility.
