CAREER: The Ties that (Un)Bind: Understanding the Connection Between Galaxies, Stars, and Black Holes

星系是宇宙的基石，因此是宇宙起源和演化的重要示踪剂。由于星系本身是由暗物质、气体、尘埃、恒星和黑洞组成的，它们也提供了对这些基本量的独特探索。计算机现在已经足够强大，可以在模拟中解析单个星系的内部结构，模拟它们从大爆炸的初始条件形成的过程。这项职业奖将推动这些模拟在分辨率、星际介质建模、恒星形成和超大质量黑洞物理学方面进入下一代。这些模拟将使天文学家能够对大型新天文台（如阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列（ALMA））所测量的星系的特性进行一些第一次直接观测预测。这项工作还将使PI和他的团队重新审视星系形成、恒星形成和黑洞生长的规律以及冷暗物质宇宙学等经典问题。该研究项目的具体目标是产生和分析一套宇宙模拟，首次明确地解决了多相星际介质（ISM）的问题。来自恒星和超大质量黑洞的真实反馈、显著改进的数值算法和最先进的分辨率的独特组合将使PI显著提高星系形成模型的预测能力。此外，该团队将公开并支持作为这项工作的一部分开发的新的数值方法，这将有助于解决许多数值问题和障碍，这些问题和障碍已经损害了上一代模拟的准确性和解释。这将使学界能够以一种过去不可能的方式评估星系形成中数值和物理的相对重要性。PI计划通过与克利夫兰自然历史博物馆的Shafran天文馆和Mueller天文台以及数据可视化专家合作，利用模拟星系形成和演化的视觉刺激。他们将共同建立和分发一个新的平台，使科学家能够将他们的星系模拟集成到天文馆的天文节目和电视节目中。这项工作预计将大大增加进入公共领域的天文可视化的数量和质量，这将改善全国的天文教育工具。

Galaxies are the building blocks of the universe, and as such are important tracers of the origin and evolution of the cosmos. Since galaxies are themselves made of dark matter, gas, dust, stars, and black holes, they also provide a unique probe of these fundamental quantities. Computers are now sufficiently powerful to resolve the internal structure of individual galaxies in simulations that model their formation from the initial conditions of the Big Bang. This CAREER award will push forward those simulations into the next generation in terms of resolution, as well as the modeling of the interstellar medium, star formation, and the physics of supermassive black holes. The simulations will allow astronomers to make some of the first direct observational predictions for the properties of galaxies being measured by major new observatories, such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The work will also enable the PI and his team to revisit classic questions in galaxy formation, the regulation of star formation and black hole growth, and cold dark matter cosmology.The specific goals of this research project are to produce and analyze a suite of cosmological simulations that explicitly resolve the multiphase interstellar medium (ISM) of for the first time. The unique combination of realistic feedback from stars and supermassive black holes, dramatically improved numerical algorithms, and state-of-the art resolution will enable the PI to dramatically improve the predictive power of galaxy formation models. In addition, the team will make public and support the new numerical methods developed as part of this work, which will help to resolve many numerical problems and barriers that have compromised the accuracy and interpretation of previous-generation simulations. This will allow the community to assess the relative importance of numerics and physics in galaxy formation in a way that has not been possible in the past.The PI plans to leverage the visual excitement of simulations of the formation and evolution of galaxies by partnering with the Shafran Planetarium and Mueller Observatory at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, as well as data visualization experts. Together they will build and distribute a new platform to allow scientists to integrate their galaxy simulations into planetarium astronomy shows and television programs. The work is expected to dramatically increase the number and quality of astronomy visualizations entering the public domain, which will improve astronomical education tools across the country.