Incorporating the molecular gas in galaxy-sized numerical simulations of gas and stars: Another step towards realism
Padelis PAPADOPOULOS
Institut für Astronomie, ETH, Zurich
Résumé :
I will report on recent numerical models of galaxies that
follow the stellar and gaseous content of galaxies using a hybrid
N-body/hydrodynamic code and incorporate the formation and evolution
of the molecular hydrogen phase for the first time.The latter is
the true "fuel" of star formation and in turn H2 formation turns out
to be a powerful and hitherto neglected regulator of star formation.
Finally such numerical models allow for the first time their
comparison to the copious datasets for the H2 distribution in galaxies
that have been accumulating in the last three decades.
