Title: Supercomputer Simulations of the Universe 

Speaker: Volker Springel

Time: 15:30, April 12

Location: Room 215, No. 8 Hainayuan Building

Abstract:

Numerical simulations of cosmic structure formation have become a powerful tool in astrophysics. Starting right after the Big Bang, they predict the dark matter backbone of the cosmic web far into the non-linear regime and follow complex galaxy formation physics with rapidly improving fidelity. In my talk, I will review the methodology and selected results of recent hydrodynamical galaxy formation simulations, such as the IllustrisTNG and MillenniumTNG projects. In particular I will discuss some of the primary challenges in modelling strong, scale-dependent feedback processes that regulate star formation, and highlight the important role played by supermassive black holes in galaxy formation. I will also discuss extremely large simulations and describe how they help to make reliable predictions for the impact of baryons and massive neutrinos on cosmological observables, effects that need to be understood to make full use of upcoming new survey data.

Biography:  

Prof. Volker Sringel is the Director at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.  He obtained his Ph.D. in Astrophysics at the University of Munich in 1999 and Postdoc at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Harvard University in 2000. Prof. Volker Sringel elected as an International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2020. He served as the member of the Research Board of the ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University.