Simulating gravitational motion, gas dynamics, and structure in the cosmos

Abstract

We provide introductory explanations and illustrations of the N-body hydrodynamics code Charm N-body GrAvity solver (ChaNGa). ChaNGa simulates the gravitational motion and gas dynamics of matter in space with the goal of modeling galactic and/or cosmological structure and evolution. We discuss the algorithm for leapfrog integration and smoothed particle hydrodynamics and computer science concepts used by the program, including the binary data structure for the particle positions. Our presentation borrows from the doctoral dissertation of J. Stadel, U. Washington, 2001. Problems are provided in order to use ChaNGa to learn or solidify some cosmological concepts.