Computing a Universe of Galaxies

结构形成的超级计算机模拟是理解驱动星系形成和演化的物理性质的新兴工具。用SCREMS授权建立的计算机集群将被用来运行一些世界上最大的Gadget-2流体力学模拟，包括我们有希望的星系外流模型，该模型首次实现了对连接星系和星际介质的复杂反馈循环的完全动力学研究。这些模拟将与对星系和星际气体的广泛的多波长、多历元观测进行比较，以便完善我们的模型并识别缺失的物理。此外，这个星系团将被用来运行我们先进的远红外辐射传输程序Turtlebeatch，该程序对Gadget-2模拟的远红外辐射做出可观测的预测，以便与赫歇尔和ALMA目前的观测和未来的数据进行比较。这笔拨款提供的计算能力将提供一个新的水平，将显著改善我们模型的动态范围，很可能导致我们对星系形成的理解取得实质性进展。这些科学调查将得到一个密切配合的计划的补充，以扩大超级计算熟练程度的培训。随着望远镜能力的不断增长，我们现在可以探测到宇宙只有当前年龄的几个百分点的时候的星系。这些图像揭示了一个充满星系的宇宙，星系的大小、形状和颜色各不相同，并通过包括重力、冲击、辐射和化学合成在内的无数物理过程进行演变。理解我们所看到的星系是如何形成的是天文学的一个核心挑战，现在可以使用强大的超级计算机来解决。超级计算机模拟从大爆炸后不久到现在的宇宙演化，并对星系数量做出可以与最前沿的观测相比较的预测。模型的成功方面让我们能够巩固我们的物理直觉，而与观测不一致的领域则会推动改进和改进。需要超级计算机来全面模拟在大范围的空间和时间尺度上运行的各种物理过程。使用SCREMS拨款建造的超级计算机将使一些有史以来最大、最复杂的模拟得以完成，这肯定会对星系形成的物理过程产生新的见解。此外，这台超级计算机将用于运行我们最先进的工具，将这些模型与观测进行比较，特别是在新兴的毫米天文学领域。最后，这笔赠款将用于开发有关超级计算的课程单元，以培训下一代学生使用这一快速进步的技术。

Supercomputer simulations of stucture formation are an emerging toolfor understanding the physical properties that drive the formation andevolution of galaxies. The computer cluster built with this SCREMS grantwill be used to run some of the world's largest Gadget-2 hydrodynamicsimulations, incorporating our promising galactic outflow model thathas enabled, for the first time, a fully dynamical investigation of thecomplex feedback cycle connecting galaxies and the intergalactic medium.These simulations will be compared to a wide suite of multiwavelength,multi-epoch observations of galaxies and intergalactic gas, in orderto refine our models and identify missing physics. Additionally,this cluster will be used to run our advanced far-infrared radiativetransfer code called Turtlebeach, which makes observable predictions forfar-infrared emission from Gadget-2 simulations, for comparison to presentobservations and future data from Herschel and ALMA. The computingpower provided by this grant will provide a new level of capabilitiesthat will significantly improve the dynamic range of our models, likelyleading to substantial advances in our understanding of galaxy formation.These science investigations will be complemented by a closely coupledprogram to expand training in supercomputing proficiency.With ever-growing telescope power we can now detect galaxies back to whenthe universe was just a few percent of its current age. These imageshave revealed a Universe filled with galaxies coming in a wide rangeof sizes, shapes, and colors, and evolving through a myriad of physicalprocesses including gravity, shocks, radiation, and chemical synthesis.Understanding how the galaxies we see came to be is a central challengein astronomy that can now be addressed using powerful supercomputers.Supercomputer simulations evolve the universe from shortly after the BigBang until the present day, and make predictions for the galaxy populationthat can be compared to forefront observations. Successful aspectsof the model allow us to solidify our physical intuition, while areasthat disagree with observations motivate improvements and refinements.Supercomputers are required to comprehensively model the sundry physicalprocesses operating over a large range of scales in space and time.The supercomputer built using this SCREMS grant will enable some of thelargest, most sophisticated simulations ever to be done, which are sureto yield new insights into the physical processes by which galaxies cometo look the way they do. Furthermore, this supercomputer will be used torun our state-of-the-art tools for comparing these models to observations,particularly in the emerging arena of millimeter astronomy. Finally,this grant will enable the development of lesson units on supercomputing,to train the next generation of students to utilize this rapidly-advancingtechnology.