A multi-phase model for simulations of galaxy formation

Abstract

We discuss SPH simulations of galaxy formation which use a hybrid method to describe a two-phase structure of the star forming ISM on unresolved scales. Our modeling includes radiative cooling, heating due to a UV background, growth of cold clouds embedded in an ambient hot gas, star formation out of cloud material, feedback due to supernovae in the form of thermal heating and cloud evaporation, starbursts that can lead to galactic outflows, and metal enrichment. Our particular model for the treatment of the two-phase structure is based on a modified and extended version of the grid-based approach of Yepes et al. (1997). We discuss the properties of the feedback model and show how it stabilizes star forming disk galaxies and reduces the cosmic star formation rate to a level consistent with current observational constraints.