Colloquium – Jenna Samuel – Simulating our Intergalactic Neighborhood and Beyond

Speaker: Jenna Samuel (UT Austin)

Title: Simulating our Intergalactic Neighborhood and Beyond

Abstract:

Low-mass or dwarf galaxies far outnumber the more massive Milky Way (MW) and Andromeda (M31) within our intergalactic neighborhood, the Local Group (LG). These low-mass galaxies are  some of the most dark matter-dominated systems known, making them excellent astrophysical objects for small-scale tests of cosmology. In fact, comparisons between simulations and observations of low-mass galaxies in the LG have led to several important cosmological tensions such as the missing satellites problem. The low-mass satellite galaxies (that reside within the dark matter halos of the MW and M31) also experience disruptive interactions with their massive host galaxies like ram pressure and tidal forces, which have significant effects on the morphology, gas content, and star formation of satellites. Recent computational advances have made it possible to simulate the LG at high resolution, enabling detailed theoretical studies of low-mass galaxies as they evolve within a LG-like environment. I will discuss my efforts to understand the evolution of low-mass galaxies in the LG using simulations from the Feedback in Realistic Environments (FIRE) project, including work on the missing satellites problem and the rapid environmental quenching of satellite galaxies. I will also touch on galaxy formation far beyond the LG, highlighting my recent work on a new large-volume simulation that will enable robust predictions for galaxy formation in the early Universe.

Host: Chao-Chin Yang