Title:The Impact of Baryon Physics on the Structure of high-redshift Galaxies
Speaker: Dr. Marcel Zemp (KIAA)
Time: 2pm, Friday (Feb. 24, 2012)
Location: Middle conference room, 3rd floor



Abstract:
　　 I present a study of the detailed structure of galaxies at redshifts z 2 using cosmological simulations with improved modeling of the interstellar medium and star formation. The simulations follow the formation and dissociation of molecular hydrogen and include star formation only in cold molecular gas. The molecular gas is more concentrated toward the center of galaxies than the atomic gas, and as a consequence, the resulting stellar distribution is very compact. Relative to the non-radiative run, the inner regions of the dark matter halo change shape from prolate to mildly oblate and align with the stellar disk. The outer halo regions retain the orientation acquired during accretion and mergers and are significantly misaligned with the inner regions. The radial profile of the dark matter halo contracts in response to baryon dissipation, establishing an approximately isothermal profile throughout most of the halo.