Description du projet
Découvrir les principaux processus responsables de la formation de la matière visible
La plus grande partie de la matière visible et ordinaire de l’univers est façonnée par des processus physiques complexes. Les champs magnétiques et les particules relativistes (appelées rayons cosmiques) sont des composants fondamentaux du plasma, qui structurent les propriétés sous-jacentes des fluides. Malgré leur importance, ils restent ignorés dans les simulations numériques en raison de leur complexité. Le projet COMPLEX, financé par l’UE, développera un cadre numérique qui permettra de réaliser pour la première fois des simulations d’amas de galaxies avec une résolution spatiale suffisante pour résoudre les échelles importantes sur lesquelles agissent les turbulences. Il établira des modèles de réseaux secondaires novateurs et détaillés nécessaires pour décrire l’évolution correcte des champs magnétiques, des rayons cosmiques et des processus de transport connexes, ce qui permettra aux scientifiques d’identifier les principaux mécanismes responsables de la composition détaillée de la plus grande fraction de la matière visible de l’univers.
Objectif
The majority of the visible, ordinary matter within the universe (baryons in form of hot plasma within galaxies and galaxy clusters) is shaped by complex, physical processes, which are still plagued by many enigmas (microscopic plasma instabilities; large scale progression of astrophysical systems). The available computational resources now opened the decade of their direct, numerical modelling. However, the treatment of magnetic fields and relativistic particles (so called cosmic rays) is still mostly ignored due to their complexity, although they are fundamental plasma components, shaping the underlying fluid properties (like viscosity and transport coefficients). Observed at all cosmic epochs (evident throughout non-thermal radiation) they harbor the potential to deliver new insights into the formation of cosmic structures. The understanding of their observable imprints (like measured structure within Faraday rotation maps, the appearance of so called radio relics and radio halos) face huge challenges, in both the complexity of the underlying models as well as the computational challenge to bridge the involved, tremendously large, spatial scales.
COMPLEX will develop the numerical framework to perform for the first time simulations of galaxy clusters with high enough spatial resolution to resolve the important scales on which turbulence acts. It will develop novel and detailed sub-grid models needed to describe the proper evolution of magnetic fields, cosmic rays and associated transport processes. Self consistently coupled to the important astrophysical processes this will allow to identify the key processes responsible for shaping the detailed composition of the largest fraction of the visible matter in the universe. Combined for the first time, this will deliver key knowledge and innovative models to interpret the ongoing and future astronomical surveys which, due to their enlarged wavelength coverage and sensitivity, are entering largely unexplored territory.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
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Régime de financement
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantInstitution d’accueil
80539 MUNCHEN
Allemagne