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CIERA researchers work on understanding the origins of structure in the Universe. Professor Faucher-Giguère’s group develops sophisticated cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation. The simulations are used to answer a wide variety of science questions, including how star formation is regulated in galaxies, how galaxies interact with the circum-galactic medium and the intergalactic medium, and how galaxies and their black holes co-evolve.

On the scales of the largest gravitationally-bound structures in the Universe, Professor Ulmer observes X-ray emission from hot gas found in galaxy clusters, as well as star formation and black hole activity occurring in clusters. In addition, Professor Ulmer develops novel instrumentation in the X-ray and optical bands. On the theoretical side, Professor Faucher-Giguère models the formation of galaxy clusters as well as how feedback from active galactic nuclei interacts with the intracluster medium.

Galaxies host supermassive black holes at their centers. Professor Faucher-Giguère models how these black holes grow in the context of galaxy evolution, while Professor Tchekhovskoy simulates how black holes accrete gas on smaller scales. Professors Faucher-Giguère and Tchekhovskoy also model how winds and jets launched by massive black holes affect galaxies and their cosmological environment. Professor Ulmer observes the tidal disruption of stars as they plunge into massive black holes.