Simulations Of Binary Galaxy Mergers

Simulations of Binary Galaxy Mergers

Galaxy interactions and mergers are key events in the history of our Universe. Each one of them impacts the fragile equilibrium state of the galaxies, their morphology, their mass and star formation rate in a drastic way. Small scale physical processes play a major role during galaxy mergers: their complex interplay leads to high level of complexity and is far from being completely understood. In past numerical studies, the lack of resolution and of a consistent thermodynamical model for a multi-phase turbulent interstellar medium was one of the main caveat of galactic scale simulations. The aim of this thesis if to study the effect of galaxy collision and mergers on the small scale physical processes by using high-resolution numerical simulations. The AMR hydrodynamical code RAMSES used in this work is described in chapter 3, as well as the additional modules developed for the specific purpose of galaxy merger simulations. In chapter 4,1 will present a high-resolution Antennae galaxy (NGC4038/39) merger simulation. In this numerical study, the use of a "pseudo-cooling" thermodynamical model leaded to a merger-induced clustered starburst, in fair agreement with thé star formation properties in observed galaxies. Chapter 5 will focus on the formation of a super-massive black hole binary at the center of a nuclear disk resulting from an equal-mass galaxy merger simulation. The effect of dynamical friction by a gaseous medium on the SMBHs pairing process is properly resolved down to sub-parsec scales. Finally, a new data processing and visualization module called PyMSES co-developed specifically for the RAMSES data structure is introduced in chapter 6.

Simulated Galaxy Remnants Produced by Binary and Multiple Mergers

Introduction to Galaxy Formation and Evolution

A comprehensive examination of nearly fourteen billion years of galaxy formation and evolution, from primordial gas to present-day galaxies.