Relativistic Plasma Probes of Low Overdensity Environments

AST-0607674 Jones低z宇宙中的大部分重子存在于难以观测的气体低密度环境中，其中包含了有关宇宙网演化的关键信息。 越来越多的人认识到，这种演化受到磁化相对论粒子群（即相对论等离子体）的严重影响。 这些等离子体的同步加速器和非热X射线辐射也可作为环境物理条件的独特观测诊断。 该项目是一套雄心勃勃的理论和观测研究，这些相对论等离子体及其与周围热等离子体的相互作用。 它包括：使用旋转测量合成对星系细丝进行调查，以研究因坠落而产生的冲击;使用射电星系测量低银河系和重子密度区域的局部压力;通过研究同步加速器辐射的迷你晕来探索群内介质;第一个射电星系演化的3D模拟，包括现实的、不均匀的低密度宇宙学环境中的磁场和辐射相对论等离子体;以及研究大尺度宇宙结构激波和超级风终端激波中宇宙射线的发射，包括对流动和相关MHD湍流的非线性反馈。 独特的多维MHD模拟与现实的综合观测相结合，将确定最佳的物理分析方法，适用于真实的观测。 观测和理论工作之间的协同作用将大大提高从每一个单独获得的见解的价值。这项研究将培养本科生和研究生在尖端科学和创新数据分析和数值模拟技术的发展。 该团队致力于传播他们的成果，包括与当地天文馆、K-12公立学校和社区团体合作。

AST-0607674JonesA large fraction of baryons in the low-z universe reside in hard-to-observe gaseous low-density settings, which contain crucial information about the evolution of the cosmic web. There is an increasing appreciation that this evolution is heavily influenced by magnetized relativistic particle populations, that is, relativistic plasmas. Synchrotron and non-thermal X-ray emissions from these plasmas also serve as unique observational diagnostics of environmental physical conditions. This project is an ambitious suite of theoretical and observational studies of these relativistic plasmas and their interactions with the surrounding thermal plasmas. It includes: a survey of filaments of galaxies for shocks due to infall, using rotation measure synthesis; measuring the local pressures in regions of low galactic and baryon density using radio galaxies; exploring the intra-group medium through studies of mini-halos of synchrotron radiation; the first 3D simulations of radio galaxy evolution, including magnetic fields and radiant relativistic plasmas, in realistic, inhomogeneous low density cosmological environments; and investigation of emissions from cosmic rays in large scale cosmic structure shocks and in super-wind terminal shocks, including nonlinear feedback on flows and associated MHD turbulence. The combination of unique multidimensional MHD simulations with realistic synthetic observations will identify the optimal physical analysis methods to apply to real observations. The synergy between the observational and theoretical efforts will greatly enhance the value of the insights to be gained from each alone.This research will train undergraduate and graduate students in both cutting edge science and the development of innovative data analysis and numerical simulation techniques. The team has a commitment to spreading their results, including work with the local planetarium, K-12 public schools, and community groups.