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"Modeling Structure Formation in the Universe: From Dark Matter
Halos to Galaxies to Supermassive Black Holes"

Dr. Stelios Kazantzidis
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology,
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stanford University

When:  Thursday 10 May 2007 at 1:30pm
Where: 2nd Floor Seminar Room

Abstract:

Understanding the formation of structure in the Universe constitutes one
of the fundamental goals of modern cosmology. Over the past two decades,
the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) cosmological model has emerged as the dominant
paradigm in this pursuit owing to its remarkable ability to explain a
plethora of observations on large scale and at various cosmic epochs. In
this model, structure develops hierarchically as small, dense dark matter
clumps collapse early and subsequently merge to form progressively
larger dark halos over time. Bound in the potential wells established by
these halos, baryons cool, condense, and form galaxies with a variety of
properties. Supercomputer simulations are the ideal means by which to
relate theoretical models with observational data and advances in
algorithms and supercomputer technology have provided the platform for
increasingly realistic astrophysical modeling. Using high-resolution,
self-consistent N-body simulations I investigate several crucial issues
for galaxy formation research including the structure and
substructure of dark matter halos and the formation of supermassive
black hole binaries during galaxy mergers. I will also examine whether the
abundance of substructure predicted by CDM models is in conflict with
the existence of thin, dynamically fragile stellar disks and present a
novel model for the formation of the darkest galaxies in the Universe.
Utilizing these results, I will emphasize the importance of baryonic
processes in comparing theory with observations and highlight the
predictive power of the CDM theory on all scales.

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