CAREER: Simulating Cosmological Galaxy Formation with Adaptive-Mesh Refinement

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

CAREER: Simulating cosmological galaxy formation with adaptive-mesh refinement ABSTRACT AST 0547823 Greg Bryan Dr. Greg Bryan, at Columbia University, will apply the Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) method to the problem of galaxy formation to investigate the actual physical processes that shape the distribution of baryons inside dark matter halos. Feedback and self-regulation from star formation will be included in the three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations that will investigate the formation of a wide range of galaxy sizes and types. Additional physical processes will also be included, including magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) and a simplified treatment of radiative transfer. Dr. Bryan's educational effort will include: (1) the involvement of astronomy and physics undergraduates in the generation of scientific visualizations, and the creation of short movies that incorporate these visualizations; (2) the construction of a stereoscopic visualization system (the "AstroWall") in the Astronomy Department at Columbia University, to facilitate visualization of multi-dimensional datasets; and (3) bringing local New York high-school students and teachers into the Astrophysics Lab to do short-term research projects involving the analysis of large-dimensional datasets