Subproject A1: Milky Way Formation in a Cosmological Context

Through numerical simulations, this project focuses on self-consistent cosmological models for the formation of our Galaxy. On the one hand, this serves to understand the physical processes that matter for the assembly of the (stellar) body; on the other hand, this provides a theoretical baseline against which to compare observations.

It has been a long-standing challenge for cosmological simulations to produce realistic disk galaxies. During the first funding period, the cosmological simulation work within the SFB achieved important progress in finally forming disk galaxies with properties similar to observed late-type spirals such as the Milky Way. The fact that this simulation deadlock could be resolved is of profound importance for all theoretical modeling of galaxy formation within the cosmological  ΛCDM paradigm. Another fundamental result concerns the finding that violent baryonic feedback processes can modify the central dark matter structure of galactic halos. This affects the central rotation curves of galaxies as well as those of their satellite systems, and clearly needs to be accurately understood in evaluating small-scale tensions between observations and theoretical predictions.

Publications

Moetazedian, R. & Just, A. “Impact of cosmological satellites on the vertical heating of the Milky Way disc“, MNRAS 459, 2905 (07/2016)

M. Vogelsberger, S. Genel, V. Springel, P. Torrey, D. Sijacki, D. Xu, G. Snyder, S. Bird, D. Nelson, L. Hernquist. “Properties of galaxies reproduced by a hydrodynamic simulation”, Nature, May 8, 2014

Marinacci, F., Pakmor, R., Springel, V.: “The formation of disc galaxies in high resolution moving-mesh cosmological simulations”. MNRAS 437, 1750 (2014)

Pakmor, R., Marinacci, F., Springel, V.: “Magnetic fields in cosmological simulations of disk galaxies”. ApJL 783, L20 (2014)

Herpich, J., Stinson, G. S., Macciò, A. V., Brook, C., Wadsley, J., Couchman, H. M. P., Quinn, T.: “MaGICC-WDM: the effects of warm dark matter in hydrodynamical simulations of disc galaxy formation”. MNRAS 437, 293 (2014)

Stinson, G. S., Bovy, J., Rix, H.-W., Brook, C., Roškar, R., Dalcanton, J. J., Macciò, A. V., Wadsley, J., Couchman, H. M. P., Quinn, T. R.: “MaGICC thick disc - I. Comparing a simulated disc formed with stellar feedback to the Milky Way”. MNRAS 436, 625 (2013)

Vogelsberger, M., Genel, S., Sijacki, D., Torrey, P., Springel, V., Hernquist, L.: “A physical model for cosmological simulations of galaxy formation”. MNRAS 436, 3031 (2013)

Stinson, G. S., Brook, C., Macciò, A. V., Wadsley, J., Quinn, T. R., Couchman, H. M. P.: “Making Galaxies In a Cosmological Context: the need for early stellar feedback”. MNRAS, 428, 129 (2013)

Torrey, P., Vogelsberger, M., Sijacki, D., Springel, V., Hernquist, L.: "Moving-mesh cosmology: properties of gas discs". MNRAS, 427, 2224 (2012)

Brook, C. B., Stinson, G. S., Gibson, B. K., Kawata, D., House, E. L., Miranda, M. S., Macciò, A. V., Pilkington, K., Roškar, R., Wadsley, J., Quinn, T. R.: “Thin disc, thick disc and halo in a simulated galaxy”. MNRAS 426, 690 (2012)

Pakmor, R., Springel, V.: “Simulations of magnetic fields in isolated disc galaxies”. MNRAS, 432, 176 (2012)

Scannapieco, C.,..., Springel V., et al.: “The Aquila comparison project: the effects of feedback and numerical methods on simulations of galaxy formation”, MNRAS, 423, 172 (2012)

Brook, C. B., Stinson, G. S., Gibson, B. K., Kawata, D., House, E. L., Miranda, M. S., Macciò, A. V., Pilkington, K., Roškar, R., Wadsley, J., Quinn, T. R.: “Thin disc, thick disc and halo in a simulated galaxy”. MNRAS, 426, 690 (2012)

Bien, R., Brandt, T., Just, A.: “Simulating sinking satellites with SUPERBOX-10”. MNRAS 428, 1631 (2013)