Miniquasars in the Dark Ages: Cosmological simulations of black holes with radiative transfer

通过红外和无线电仪器以及精细尺度微波背景实验的结合，再电离前和再电离期间的时代即将成为可观测的。因此，了解在黑暗时代末期使星系间介质再加热和再电离的源的性质是至关重要的。该项目将研究类星体在高红移宇宙中的作用，结合类星体和星系形成和成长的从头算宇宙学模拟与高分辨率辐射传输，首次对这一时期进行完全自一致的建模。类星体通过热反馈和电离辐射的贡献，迄今在理论预测中很大程度上是缺失的，很可能在早期阶段占据主导地位，并在很大程度上改变中性氢的大尺度结构。模拟将揭示硬x射线源预电离的复杂相互作用和恒星源的贡献，研究星系间气体的物理状态，并对射电源的数量和特征进行详细的物理动机预测。这些结果对后来看到的东西有重要意义，从类星体和超大质量黑洞到矮星系追踪的大尺度结构。由于对黑暗时代的第一次观察研究刚刚开始，成为一个新兴领域的一部分将使参与研究的研究生和本科生受益。研究结果将被纳入一个现有的面向弱势群体中学生的拓展项目，并纳入本科课程项目。

The epoch before and during reionization is about to become accessible observationally through a combination of infrared and radio instruments and fine scale microwave background experiments. Understanding the nature of sources that reheated and reionized the intergalactic medium at the end of the dark ages is therefore crucial. This project will investigate the role of quasars in the high redshift Universe, combining ab initio cosmological simulations of quasar and galaxy formation and growth with high resolution radiative transfer to perform the first fully self consistent modeling of this epoch. The contribution of quasars through both thermal feedback and ionizing radiation, so far largely missing in theoretical predictions, is likely to dominate the early stages and substantially modify the large scale structure seen in neutral hydrogen. The simulations will reveal the complex interplay of pre-ionization by hard X-ray sources and the contribution of stellar sources, study the physical state of intergalactic gas, and make detailed physically motivated predictions of the number and character of radio sources.These results have major implications for what is seen later, from quasars and supermassive black holes to the large-scale structure traced by dwarf galaxies. As the first observational studies of the dark ages are just on the horizon, being part of a new, emerging field will benefit the graduate student and undergraduates involved in the research. The results will be incorporated in an existing outreach program working with middle school students from underrepresented groups, and included in undergraduate coursework projects.