Galactic dynamics: N-body simulations

Abstract

The work plan proposed here is part of a research project whose goal is the study of interacting galaxies, starting from the acquisition of observational data (optical and IR imaging and spectroscopy, 2D and 3D), from where we make a morphological/chemical/kinematic study of the systems of interest. Subsequently we perform the numerical modeling of the systems in order to study its dynamic history. The project requires the use intensive parallel processing on clusters. The Fellow will engage in a projects in progress by the group, using, and possibly developing codes for initial conditions generation and data analysis. The student's work aims at the preparation of data from N-body simulations for analysis and visualization; realization of galaxy models and setup of initial conditions for numerical simulations using programs already available; the study and improvement of some of these codes, written in general in IDL, C and C + +, thus requiring the learning of these languages; in running and controlling simulations in clusters.