Project Details
Projekt
The impact of cosmic rays on the multi-phase structure of the turbulent interstellar medium
Subject Area
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Term
from 2014 to 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 263067211
Cosmic rays (CR) are an integral (non-thermal) part of the interstellar medium (ISM). They are most likely accelerated in strong shocks generated by supernova explosions and propagate into the ISM along magnetic field lines. Due to the low energy loss rates they can be transported over large distances and can be a significant energy and momentum source for the thermal ISM gas (provided they can couple), also in regions of low density. Analytical and one-dimensional calculations have indicated a significant impact of CRs on the ISM properties with the potential of driving large scale outflows. This was indicated by approximate galaxy scale simulations. However, no detailed magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of the dynamical impact of CRs on the turbulent ISM have been performed so far. We propose to perform such high-resolution simulations with a jointly developed novel version of the AMR grid code FLASH extended for the energy dependent anisotropic transport of CRs (ten energy bins) along magnetic field lines and taking into account adiabatic losses. We propose to extend the code with a module that allows for the self-consistent injection of CRs in strong shocks at rates derived from a computationally efficient and well tested semi-analytical model for non-linear diffuse shock acceleration. With these powerful tools and the two PhD positions that we apply for in this proposal we aim at addressing the following questions with three-dimensional MHD simulations for the first time: What is the global dynamical impact of cosmic rays generated in supernovae on the turbulent multi-phase structure of the ISM? How do cosmic rays at different energies diffuse through the turbulent magnetized ISM? Can cosmic rays support the launching of galactic winds in a realistically structured ISM? How does CR acceleration change the shock structure? How do the CRs diffuse away from shocks into the ISM? How do ionization and stellar winds of the SN progenitor change the shock structure and the CR injection? How does the CR acceleration vary for temporally and spatially coupled SNe? With the results of the proposed study we might very well prove that CRs do play a more significant role in shaping the ISM properties than previously thought. If we can confirm that CRs can actually drive large scale galactic outflows from a realistically structured ISM they will become a global player with a major role for shaping the ISM and regulating the formation efficiency of star forming galaxies at all masses and cosmic epochs.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
Subproject of
SPP 1573:
Physics of the Interstellar Medium
