Duke Physics Colloquium: New Insights on Galaxy Formation from Comparing Simulations and Observations

"New Insights on Galaxy Formation from Comparing Simulations and Observations" - I will start by summarizing new results from analysis of cosmic large scale structure simulations, including the possibility that the star formation rate of many star-forming galaxies reflects their dark matter halo's mass accretion rate. I will then describe successes and challenges of high-resolution hydrodynamic galaxy simulations in trying to understand the Hubble Space Telescope observations of galaxies during the period of most vigorous star formation (redshifts 1 to 3, "Cosmic High Noon"). Like most astronomers, I used to think that galaxies form as disks, that forming galaxies are pretty smooth, and that galaxies generally grow in radius as they grow in mass - but the Hubble data shows that all these statements are false. The majority of star-forming galaxies at z > 1 have recently been shown to have mostly elongated (prolate) stellar distributions rather than disks or spheroids, and our simulations may explain why... Read the full abstract on the Physics website. Coffee and cookies will be served before the event in room 128.