Galaxies are shaped not just by the stars they form, but also by powerful winds that blow gas, dust, and heavy elements into space. These stellar-driven outflows influence how galaxies grow, regulate star formation, and enrich the Universe with the elements that make planets, and ultimately life, possible.
To understand these critical cosmic winds, two staff members from the University of Bath’s Department of Physics have successfully secured a grant from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The funding includes support for a postdoctoral research associate to work at the intersection of galaxy simulations and observations, studying galactic outflows at cosmic noon, the period roughly 10 billion years ago when the Universe formed stars at its peak rate.
The project will make use of advanced numerical simulations from the Megatron project, pioneered by Dr Martin Rey, the Project Lead on the grant. These simulations are among the most detailed ever produced, tracking gas dynamics, star formation, and radiation, while solving for the chemical composition of more than 90 chemical species. They capture the structure of galactic outflows in unprecedented detail, from hot, diffuse gas to colder, denser streams, providing a comprehensive picture of how winds emerge from galaxies.
The newly appointed postdoctoral researcher will link these simulations to major international observational surveys using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, including the VLT/KMOS and VLT/MOONS programmes, in which Prof. Stijn Wuyts is closely involved. These surveys are mapping galactic outflows in hundreds of galaxies at cosmic noon. By analysing simulated ultraviolet and optical light in the same way as real telescope data, the team will be able to identify and correct biases in current measurement techniques, improving estimates of outflow speeds, outflow gas masses, and energetics.
By bringing together expertise in both numerical simulations and observational astronomy, the STFC-funded project strengthens the University of Bath’s role in international efforts to understand how galaxies evolve and how powerful stellar-driven winds shape the Universe we see today.