Collaborative Research: A Holistic Approach to Modeling Galaxy Clusters

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

The team will perform numerous state-of-the-art simulations of galaxy clusters spanning a large range in mass. The simulations will incorporate observationally-constrained models for feedback from star formation and supermassive black holes, along with a novel treatment of chemical evolution. The aims are twofold: (1) Establish a unified description for the evolution of the galaxies, the supermassive black holes, and the hot tenuous gas within the clusters; (2) Determine the key observable signatures that constrain the interplay between the processes of galaxy feedback and the growth of structure in the Universe. These efforts constitute a self-consistent, holistic approach to feedback that will be able to account for multifaceted properties observed across all mass scales. The team will continue its involvement in an established, successful STEM program. The research will increase the physical realism of the simulations, increasing the appeal of the image products released to the public.