Speaker
Mr
Andrea Gatto
(Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics)
Description
Supernova (SN) explosions are an important component for shaping the interstellar medium (ISM). They produce its hottest phase while driving turbulent motions in the warm and cold gas. Globally, these random motions could provide a net turbulent support and help to regulate star formation. The impact of SNe on the ISM is, however, strongly dependent on the thermodynamic properties of the ambient medium with which they interact.
We use 3D hydrodynamical simulations both in a (256 pc)^3 periodic box and in a (500 pc)^2 x +/- 5 kpc region of a galactic disc to model the impact of SN explosions on the multi-phase ISM using different initial densities and SN rates. We include radiative cooling, diffuse heating, and the formation of molecular gas using a chemical network. The SNe explode at a fixed rate either at random positions, at density peaks, or both, or clustered in space and time.
We show that SN positioning has a dramatic impact on the recovered ISM properties. SNe located at random positions are able to efficiently heat up and, at the same time, compress the ambient medium. Explosions positioned in density peaks, on the other hand, result in huge radiative losses and they strongly suppress the formation of molecular hydrogen.
Author
Mr
Andrea Gatto
(Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics)