Evolution of the Intergalactic Medium and Formation of Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Professor Shapiro and his research group are computational cosmologists with interests in simulating and reconstructing various epochs in the early history of the universe. They are concerned in particular with the theory of galaxy and large-scale structure formation after the initial formation of supermassive stars. The earliest structures evolved under the competing influences of gravitation and radiation and in turn influenced the subsequent formation of structure. Constraints for the group's theoretical investigations come from advanced measurements of the cosmic microwave background (in particular from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe spacecraft). Shapiro and members of the group have developed and improved their ASPH (adaptive smoothed particle hydrodynamics) code to explore the overall hydrodynamic evolution of structure. They are also pioneering the development of gas dynamical simulations with adaptive mesh refinement that include radiative transfer and other processes self-consistently. They use the Lonestar machine at TACC to simulate structure formation and interaction.