Cosmological simulations of galaxy formation with cosmic rays

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical impact of cosmic rays (CR) in cosmological simulations of galaxy formation using adaptive-mesh refinement simulations of a 1012 M halo. In agreement with previous work, a run with only our standard thermal energy feedback model results in a massive spheroid and unrealistically peaked rotation curves. However, the addition of a simple two-fluid model for CRs drastically changes the morphology of the forming disk. We include an isotropic diffusive term and a source term tied to star formation due to (unresolved) supernova-driven shocks. Over a wide range of diffusion coefficients, the CRs generate thin, extended disks with a significantly more realistic (although still not flat) rotation curve. We find that the diffusion of CRs is key to this process, as they escape dense star-forming clumps and drive outflows within the more diffuse interstellar medium.