Star Formation in Galaxy Evolution: Connecting Numerical Models to Reality

Star Formation in Galaxy Evolution: Connecting Numerical Models to Reality
Author: Nickolay Y. Gnedin
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 375
Release: 2015-09-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662478900

This book contains the elaborated and updated versions of the 24 lectures given at the 43rd Saas-Fee Advanced Course. Written by four eminent scientists in the field, the book reviews the physical processes related to star formation, starting from cosmological down to galactic scales. It presents a detailed description of the interstellar medium and its link with the star formation. And it describes the main numerical computational techniques designed to solve the equations governing self-gravitating fluids used for modelling of galactic and extra-galactic systems. This book provides a unique framework which is needed to develop and improve the simulation techniques designed for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies. Presented in an accessible manner it contains the present day state of knowledge of the field. It serves as an entry point and key reference to students and researchers in astronomy, cosmology, and physics.

Unraveling Galaxy Evolution Using Numerical Simulations

Unraveling Galaxy Evolution Using Numerical Simulations
Author: Claire Kopenhafer
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

One of the primary concerns in galaxy evolution is how galaxies form their stars: what keeps that star formation going over cosmic time, and what causes it to stop in a processes called "quenching". Galaxies with mass similar to our own Milky Way occupy a sweet spot between abundance and brightness that makes them easy to find in the sky, and such galaxies also populate a transitionary regime in behavior that make them interesting for studying galaxy evolution. Numerical modeling-from semi-analytic models to numerical simulations-are valuable tools for understanding the multiple intersecting physical processes that drive galaxy evolution. These processes act both within and around individual galaxies such that numerical models must necessarily encompass a range of spatial and temporal scales. Multiple approaches are commonly used in order for this modeling to be physically insightful. In this dissertation I will present my efforts to unravel the mechanisms of galaxy evolution affect Milky Way-like galaxies using a variety of numerical models.Addressing the issue of what causes galaxies to stop forming stars, I first investigate an unusual population of galaxies called the "break BRDs" (Tuttle and Tonnesen 2020). Within the dominant framework for galaxy quenching, galaxies first stop forming stars in their centers and later in their outskirts. This is the "inside-out" quenching paradigm. The break BRD galaxies possess observational markers that run counter to this narrative. We used the Illustris TNG cosmological simulation(Pillepich et al. 2018b) to find a set of simulated galaxies that are analogous to the observed breakBRDs in order to better understand their evolution. We found that the breakBRD analogues are galaxies that ultimately become fully quenched, but found no clear cause for the "outside-in" modality. This is not the dominant channel for quenching in the IllustrisTNG simulation, but roughly 10% of quiescent galaxies with 10

Probing Galaxy Evolution Through Numerical Simulations

Probing Galaxy Evolution Through Numerical Simulations
Author: Maan H. Hani
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN:

Large observational surveys have compiled substantial galaxy samples with an array of different properties across cosmic time. While we have a broad understanding of how galaxies grow and build their observable properties, the details of galaxy growth and evolution pose a fundamental challenge to galaxy evolution theories. Nonetheless, galaxy evolution is ultimately regulated by the properties of the gas reservoir. In this thesis I use numerical simulations to answer key questions related to the galactic gas reservoir, and galaxy mergers: a major transformational process. In Chapter 2 I present an analysis of 28 simulated L* galaxies to understand the physical processes that shape the massive gas reservoir surrounding galaxies (i.e. the circum-galactic medium; CGM). I show that (1) the gas and metal content of the CGM is driven by galaxy growth and the strength/presence of feedback processes, and (2) the ionisation and internal structures of the CGM are shaped by galactic outflows, and active galactic nucleus luminosity. Albeit dependent on internal galactic properties and the physical processes that shape them, the CGM remains greatly diverse, thus posing a challenge for observational surveys. As a follow-up to my study of normal L* galaxy gas halos, in Chapter 3 I present a theoretical study of the effect of galaxy mergers on the CGM. I demonstrate that galaxy mergers can leave a strong imprint on the CGM's gas and metal content, metallicity, and size. The merger can increase (1) the CGM's metallicity by 0.2-0.3 dex within 0.5 Gyr post-merge, and (2) the metal covering fractions by factors of 2-3. In spite of the increase in the CGM's metal content, the hard ionising field during the merger can drive a decline in the covering fractions of commonly observed ions. In Chapter 4 I shift focus to star formation, particularly the effects of galaxy mergers on star formation. While the effects of galaxy mergers have been proven observationally, theoretical predictions are limited to small binary merger suites and cosmological zoom-in studies. I present a statistical study of 27,691 post-merger galaxies from IllustrisTNG to quantify the effect of galaxy mergers on galactic star formation. I report a dependence in the merger-induced star formation rate (SFR) on mass ratio, stellar mass, gas fraction, and galaxy SFR. I also track the evolution of the effects of galaxy mergers demonstrating their decay over ~500 Myr. In Chapter 6, I leverage galactic scaling relations to extend my work on the effects of galaxy mergers to resolved scales. However, before using the simulated resolved scaling relations, I first examine their existence and robustness. In Chapter 5, I demonstrate the emergence of the kpc-scale star forming main sequence (rSFMS) in the FIRE-2 simulations. Nonetheless, the slope of the rSFMS is dependent on the (1) star formation tracer's timescale, and (2) observed resolution, which I propose is caused by the clumpiness of star formation. I develop a toy model that quantitatively captures the effects of clumpy star formation. I then illustrate how the model can be used to characterise the mass of star-forming clumps. Having demonstrated the existence and robustness of known scaling relations in numerical simulations, I explore the effects of galaxy mergers on resolved scales in Chapter 6. I generate synthetic observations for 1,927 post-mergers in IllustrisTNG and examine the radially-dependent merger-driven SFR enhancement, and metallicity suppression in post-mergers. Galaxy mergers preferentially boost star formation in the centres and suppress metallicities globally. The effects of the merger depends on galaxy properties such as stellar mass, SFR, mass ratio, and gas fraction.

Formation Of The First Black Holes

Formation Of The First Black Holes
Author: Muhammad Latif
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2019-04-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9813227966

The formation of the first supermassive black holes is one of the main open questions in our understanding of high-redshift structure formation. In this book, we aim to provide a summary of state-of-the-art modern research on this topic, exploring the formation of massive black holes from a fluid-dynamical, stellar-dynamical and chemical perspective. The book thus presents a solid theoretical foundation, a comparison with current observations and future observational perspectives with upcoming missions such as the Square Kilometre Array, the European Extremely Large Telescope, the Euclid satellite as well as possible detections via gravitational waves.

Dynamical Astrochemistry

Dynamical Astrochemistry
Author: David A Williams
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2017-12-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1788012704

Astrochemistry is a well-established interdisciplinary subject and the methods for describing time-dependent chemistry in static or slowly-changing regions of interstellar space have been well-developed over many years. Existing astrochemical books normally describe the subject in terms of chemistry in static or slowly-varying astronomical situations but the most significant astronomical regions are those in which the physical conditions change on timescales that are comparable to or shorter than chemical timescales. Written by leading experts in this area, this is the first book specifically devoted to the astrochemistry of dynamically evolving astronomical regions. It provides a comprehensive description of this important area of science, stressing in particular the methods that have been developed for specific purposes. It will be of interest to researchers in astrochemistry, including both chemists and physicists and could form the basis of a postgraduate course for research students in chemistry and physics.

Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry

Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry
Author:
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 5276
Release: 2018-03-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128098945

Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry: Surface Science and Electrochemistry, Seven Volume Set summarizes current, fundamental knowledge of interfacial chemistry, bringing readers the latest developments in the field. As the chemical and physical properties and processes at solid and liquid interfaces are the scientific basis of so many technologies which enhance our lives and create new opportunities, its important to highlight how these technologies enable the design and optimization of functional materials for heterogeneous and electro-catalysts in food production, pollution control, energy conversion and storage, medical applications requiring biocompatibility, drug delivery, and more. This book provides an interdisciplinary view that lies at the intersection of these fields. Presents fundamental knowledge of interfacial chemistry, surface science and electrochemistry and provides cutting-edge research from academics and practitioners across various fields and global regions

Deep Millimeter Surveys: Implications For Galaxy Formation And Evolution

Deep Millimeter Surveys: Implications For Galaxy Formation And Evolution
Author: David H Hughes
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2001-10-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814492094

The arrival of large submillimeter and millimeter-wave detector arrays opened a new window on galaxy formation and evolution. The major new facilities now being designed or constructed, such as ALMA (MMA) and the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT), will soon be expanding the horizons even farther.The Conference on “Deep Millimeter Surveys: Implications for Galaxy Formation and Evolution” drew together the major international groups working on submillimeter and millimeter-wave galaxies to discuss their relation to other galaxies both near by and in the early Universe, the role of the LMT and other new facilities in advancing the new field, and the implications of the new results and models for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. The resulting compendium of reports on observations, simulations, theory and interpretation, and instrumentation is the first book to present the new millimeter view of the early Universe thoroughly in a single volume.

Numerical Models of Galaxy Evolution

Numerical Models of Galaxy Evolution
Author: Jackson Eugene DeBuhr
Publisher:
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

This thesis explores two topics in contemporary galaxy evolution using numerical models and N-body simulation: feedback in active galactic nuclei and the heating of stellar disks. Two numerical models of feedback from active galactic nuclei are developed and applied to the case of a major merger between two disk galaxies. Accretion into central black holes is modeled via a subgrid prescription based on angular momentum transport on unresolved scales. Feedback from black holes is modeled in two ways, both of which deposit a momentum [tau] L / c into the surroundings, where L is the luminosity of radiation produced by the galactic nucleus. In the first model, the momentum is divided equally among the nearby gas particles to model processes like the absorption of ultraviolet light by dust grains. The second model deposits the same amount of momentum into the surroundings, but it does so by launching a wind with a fixed speed, which only has a direct effect on a small fraction of the gas in the black hole's vicinity. Both models successfully regulate the growth of the black hole, reproducing, for example, the MBH-[sigma] relationship, albeit for large amounts of momentum deposition (large [tau]). This regulation is largely independent of the fueling model employed, and thus is d̀emand limited' black hole growth, rather than a s̀upply limited' mode. However, only the model that implements an active galactic nucleus wind explicitly has an effect on large scales, quenching star formation in the host galaxy, and driving a massive galaxy-scale outflow. In a separate set of calculations, a method for including a stellar disk in cosmological zoom-in simulation is presented and applied to a set of realistic dark matter halos taken from the Aquarius suite of simulations. The halos are adiabatically adjusted from z = 1.3 to z = 1.0 by a rigid disk potential, at which point the rigid potential is replaced with a live stellar disk of particles. The halos respond to the disks, in every orientation simulated, by contracting in their central regions and by becoming oblate instead of prolate. The resulting disks, with few exceptions, form large bars which contain a fair fraction of the mass of the disk. These bars buckle and dominate the dynamics of the disk, increasing not only the scale height of the disk, but also the vertical velocity dispersion. During the simulations, the disks tumble coherently with their host halo, but can leave the outermost edges of the disk behind, creating streams that are far out of the plane of the disk. Some first steps are taken to relate the evolution of the disk to the substructure in the halo, but the situation is complicated by the massive bar.

Galaxy Formation and Mergers with Stars and Massive Black Holes

Galaxy Formation and Mergers with Stars and Massive Black Holes
Author: Chi-hun Kim
Publisher: Stanford University
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

While mounting observational evidence suggests the coevolution of galaxies and their embedded massive black holes (MBHs), a comprehensive astrophysical understanding which incorporates both galaxies and MBHs has been missing. To tackle the nonlinear processes of galaxy formation, we develop a state-of-the-art numerical framework which self-consistently models the interplay between galactic components: dark matter, gas, stars, and MBHs. Utilizing this physically motivated tool, we present an investigation of a massive star-forming galaxy hosting a slowly growing MBH in a cosmological LCDM simulation. The MBH feedback heats the surrounding gas and locally suppresses star formation in the galactic inner core. In simulations of merging galaxies, the high-resolution adaptive mesh allows us to observe widespread starbursts via shock-induced star formation, and the interplay between the galaxies and their embedding medium. Fast growing MBHs in merging galaxies drive more frequent and powerful jets creating sizable bubbles at the galactic centers. We conclude that the interaction between the interstellar gas, stars and MBHs is critical in understanding the star formation history, black hole accretion history, and cosmological evolution of galaxies. Expanding upon our extensive experience in galactic simulations, we are well poised to apply this tool to other challenging, yet highly rewarding tasks in contemporary astrophysics, such as high-redshift quasar formation.

Principles of Star Formation

Principles of Star Formation
Author: Peter Bodenheimer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2011-07-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642150632

Understanding star formation is one of the key fields in present-day astrophysics. This book treats a wide variety of the physical processes involved, as well as the main observational discoveries, with key points being discussed in detail. The current star formation in our galaxy is emphasized, because the most detailed observations are available for this case. The book presents a comparison of the various scenarios for star formation, discusses the basic physics underlying each one, and follows in detail the history of a star from its initial state in the interstellar gas to its becoming a condensed object in equilibrium. Both theoretical and observational evidence to support the validity of the general evolutionary path are presented, and methods for comparing the two are emphasized. The author is a recognized expert in calculations of the evolution of protostars, the structure and evolution of disks, and stellar evolution in general. This book will be of value to graduate students in astronomy and astrophysics as well as to active researchers in the field.