Dr Padelis Papadopoulos (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)

The molecular gas phase in galaxy-size numerical simulations: another step towards realism - Dr Padelis Papadopoulos Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The molecular gas phase has been either missing or postulated in an
adhoc fashion in all numerical models of galaxies. Apart from the obvious fallacy of forming the stars out of HI gas in such models, this deficiency inhibits their comparison with the rich datasets that delinate the distribution of H2 gas in galaxies (via the emission of its
tracer CO molecule). I will present recent models of the coupled evolution of the gaseous and stellar content of
galaxies using a hybrid N-body/hydrodynamic (SPH) code, a Jeans mass
criterion for the onset of star formation, while incorporating the formation of H2 out of HI gas as part of such a model. I will then present first applications of it in dwarf galaxies
and discuss the results in the context of the ongoing debate of how much
H2 really exists in galaxies.