Peta-Cosmology: galaxy formation and virtual astronomy

这项提议是为将于2011年投入使用的Blue Waters计算机系统临时分配时间，并为支持与Blue Waters项目小组的技术协调提供旅行资金。该项目将使用Blue Waters根据基本物理学对星系形成和宇宙演化进行数值模拟，(A)将与来自新地面和空间的一套宇宙学数据集进行测试，(B)将用作确定下一代超大型宇宙学观测实验参数的训练集。两个不同的从头算宇宙学模拟程序将被使用，Enzo和一个新的程序，Hydro Tree粒子网格(HTPM)，它在现有的树粒子网格程序中添加了光滑粒子流体力学。模拟结果将用于研究恒星质量为M_&amp；#8902；#10^9M_Solar的星系，计算恒星形成和质量组装历史，量化z=0&10处不同波段的光度函数和颜色，使用模拟输出构建光锥数据，计算星系数量，并提供关于星系集群及其演化的详细预测。这个项目的目的是确定星系形成的时间和方式，以及它们在早期宇宙中是如何演化的。该项目将包括本科生和研究生研究人员，并将产生壮观的可视化图像，用于公共宣传和宇宙学教育。

This proposal is for a provisional allocation of time on the Blue Waters computer system, due to become operational in 2011, and for travel funds to support technical coordination with the Blue Waters project team.The project will use Blue Waters to make numerical simulations of galaxy formation and the evolution of the universe, based on fundamental physics, that (a) will be tested against a suite of cosmological data-sets from new ground and space based, (b) will be used as a training set to define the parameters of the next generation of very large cosmological observational experiments. Two different ab initio cosmological simulation codes will be used, Enzo and a new code, Hydro Tree Particle Mesh (HTPM), that adds smooth particle hydrodynamics to an existing tree particle mesh code.The simulation output will be used to study galaxies with stellar masses M_⋆ 10^9 M_Solar, computing star formation and mass assembly history, quantifying luminosity functions and colors in various bands at z = 0 − 10, constructing light-cone data using the simulation output, computing galaxy number counts, and providing detailed predictions of galaxy clustering and its evolution as functions of luminosity, color and environment. The purpose of this is to determine when and how galaxies form, and how they evolved in the early universe.The project will include undergraduate and graduate researchers, and will produce spectacular visualizations that will be used for public outreach and education in cosmology.