Astronomy & Astrophysics Seminar: Turbulence in galactic disks at early times -- origin & implications

Zoom: https://tau-ac-il.zoom.us/j/87230679135?pwd=Y1duRlArUkJwSnhaaXVscUU0azY3Zz09

Abstract:

Star formation (SF) is the main physical process that determines the evolution and fate of galaxies.Observationally, most SF occurs in rotation-dominated disk galaxies, which form by the accretion of high angular momentum, cold streams of gas originating from the cosmic web. Being the main hosts of SF, the processes that govern the formation and evolution of disk galaxies are an important research subject.

Despite variations in mass, size, and gas fractions between disk galaxies, observations suggest that there are several features that are common between disks, two of them being the perturbed clumpy structure and supersonic turbulence.

In this talk, I will discuss how these two features are intimately related and govern the dynamical and structural evolution of a galaxy. I will present a simple theoretical toy model for how turbulence is sustained in disks over several epochs. Also, I will show results from numerical simulations on how a compressible turbulence field can enhance clump formation in galactic disks.
 

Seminar Organizer: Dr. Jonathan Stern

Recording >