The Dynamics of Galaxy Formation

AST 0205969Katz在过去的十年里，我们关于星系如何形成的基本观点已经达成了共识。 这个“标准”模型已经能够解释星系的众多和不同的观测。 然而，四个棘手的问题仍然存在。这些问题来自于使用计算机模拟进行的预测。这导致一些研究人员大幅改变或放弃了这个原本非常成功的标准模型。然而，计算机模拟并不完美，最近的研究表明，正确模拟星系及其暗物质晕的动力学比以前认识到的要困难得多。因此，这些问题的原因可能纯粹是数字上的。 或者，这些问题的原因可能是物理效应没有正确地包括在模拟中。卡茨博士和他的合作者将研究这些问题的根源和可能的解决方案，以尝试和评估是否应该改变或放弃星系形成的标准模型。他们将使用越来越现实的数值模拟和新的数值技术来研究这些微妙的动力学过程及其对上述问题的影响。***

AST 0205969KatzOver the past ten years, our basic ideas about how galaxies form has reached a consensus. This "standard" model has been able to explain numerous and varied observations of galaxies. However, four vexing problems remain. These problems arise from predictions made using computer simulations. This has led some researchers to significantly alter or abandon this otherwise very successful standard model. However, computer simulations are not perfect, and it has recently been shown that correctly simulating the dynamics of galaxies and their dark matter halos is much more difficult than previously realized. Hence the cause of these problems could be purely numerical in nature. Alternatively, the cause of these problems could be physical effects which are not properly included in the simulations.Dr Katz and his collaborators will study the origin of these problems and possible solutions to try and assess whether or not the standard model for galaxy formation should be changed or abandoned. They will use numerical simulations of ever increasing realism and novel numerical techniques to study these subtle dynamical processes and their impact on the above problems. ***