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“The Role of Dissipative Physics In Galaxy Formation” Dr. Brant Robertson University of Chicago |
| A primary focus of theoretical astrophysics examines the formation and evolution of galaxies. These studies are crucial for understanding our place in the universe, for interpreting extragalactic astronomical data, and for controlling systematic uncertainties in experimental studies concerning dark matter, dark energy, and cosmological parameter estimation. While the general framework of hierarchical structure formation through the gravitational clustering of dark matter halos is well established, models of the dissipative physics that give rise to the observable properties of galaxies have been slower to develop. In this talk, I will discuss new physical models of the dissipative processes of star formation in the interstellar medium, supernovae explosions, and energetic feedback from accretion onto supermassive black holes, and present numerical simulations that demonstrate the importance of these physical processes for the evolution of the galaxy population. Throughout, I will identify promising areas of future research into galaxy formation in the context of exciting observational facilities planned for the next decade. |