Where Do Galaxies Spend Their Time? The Evolving Environment of Galaxies and Their CGM
Abstract
We use a new method to study the changing environment in which galaxies and their associated circumgalactic medium evolve. We have developed a structure finding algorithm which uses the rate of change of the density gradient to self-consistently parse and follow the evolution of groups/clusters, filaments and voids in large scale simulations. We use this to map the evolution of the baryon gas phase distribution and the star formation history within the different structures. This examination yields new insights into the location of star forming regions and the gas phase distribution within the filamentary environment. Although the majority of the WHIM is associated with filaments, their multiphase nature and the fact that star formation occurs in condensed gas regions both advise against conflating the filamentary environment with the WHIM. We track the path of star forming halos through the Cosmic Web to expose their environmental history, revealing the multiphase nature and time-dependence of the physical environment of galaxies and their associated circumgalactic medium.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #227
- Pub Date:
- January 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AAS...22710902P