Astronomers create simulation of universe with realistic galaxies

An international team of astronomers have recently created a simulation of the universe with realistic galaxies, it has been reported.

Astronomers, based at the Universities of Leiden in the Netherlands and Durham in the UK and, led by Professor Joop Schaye (Leiden University) created their mass; size and age are similar to those of observed galaxies. Their similarity is caused by the simulation of strong galactic winds, gas winds that are blown from galaxies.

The simulations took several months to run at the "Cosmology Machine" in Durham and at "Curie" in Paris, among the largest computers used for scientific research in the U.K. and France, respectively.

Astronomers can now use the results to study the development of galaxies from almost 14 billion years ago until now.

The galaxies formed in the EAGLE-simulation (Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments) are a much closer reflection of real galaxies because of the strong galactic winds, which blow away the gas supply needed for the formation of stars. AGLE's galaxies are lighter and younger because fewer stars form and they form later. In the simulation these galactic winds, which are powered by stars, supernova explosions and supermassive black holes, are stronger than in earlier simulations.

The study is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.