Simulating Galaxy Formation with Cosmic Dust

星系在宇宙年龄的增长是我们银河系历史的重要组成部分，也是我们在宇宙中的位置。星系通过在引力作用下将气体聚集在一起形成恒星来聚集和生长。然后，恒星将气体和尘埃返回星际和星际空间。恒星光、气体和尘埃之间的相互作用可以改变气体聚集和形成恒星的速度，因此它可以改变星系的生长。这个项目将研究尘埃对星系生长和恒星形成速度的影响。这个项目将把一个新的尘埃演化方案应用到一个最先进的星系形成框架中，以模拟星系在宇宙时间内的增长。该项目将使用Illustris宇宙学模拟为孤立星系中的星系演化、宇宙学均匀体积模拟以及银河系类星系的放大模拟提供框架。尘埃模拟将包括恒星演化中的尘埃产生模型，星际介质中通过吸积和凝聚的尘埃颗粒增长模型，以及通过溅射、破碎和超新星冲击的尘埃颗粒破坏模型。尘埃与星际气体和辐射的相互作用将由尘埃-气体阻力来调节。该项目将制作星系的尘埃质量含量和星系中预期的颗粒尺寸分布的模型。这些模型将被用来为使用ALMA和JWST观测对星系形成进行观测测试提供数据。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The growth of galaxies over the age of the universe is an important part of the history of our own galaxy and our place in the universe. Galaxies assemble and grow by bringing gas together under the force of gravity to form stars. The stars then return gas and dust to the interstellar and intergalactic space. The interaction between starlight, gas, and dust can then change the rate at which gas assembles and forms stars, so it can alter the growth of the galaxy. This project will study the effect of dust on the growth of galaxies and the rate of star formation.This project will apply a novel dust evolution scheme to a state-of-the-art galaxy formation framework to simulate the growth of galaxies over cosmological time. The project will use the Illustris cosmological simulations to provide the framework for galaxy evolution in isolated galaxies, cosmological uniform volume simulations, and zoom-in simulations on Milky Way-like galaxies. The dust simulations will include models of dust production in stellar evolution, dust grain growth in the interstellar medium through accretion and coagulation, and dust grain destruction through sputtering, shattering, and supernova shocking. The interaction of the dust with interstellar gas and radiation will be mediated by a dust-gas drag force. The project will produce models of the dust mass content of galaxies and the expected grain size distribution in galaxies. The models will be used to provide data for observational tests of galaxy formation using ALMA and JWST observations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.