Video: Birth of the Universe – Direct Numerical Simulations of Cosmological Reionization

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqA1WbeZ6pk

In this video from SC11, Michael Norman (SDSC), Joseph Insley (ANL), and Rick Wagner (SDSC) describe a set of ground-breaking collaborative astrophysics simulations. Essentially, the visualizations depict the formation of the first galaxies, and what happened to the surrounding intergalactic gas when they lit up.

The light from early galaxies had a dramatic impact on the gasses filling the universe. This video highlights the spatial structure of the light’s effect, by comparing two simulations: one with a self-consistent radiation field (RHD), and one without (HD). The comparison shown is the relative difference of the density. The colors show whether the density is greater in radiative or non-radiative case.”

The simulation was run on 50,000 cores of the Jaguar supercomputer at ORNL and consumed over 20 million CPU hours to date. These are some stunning visualizations, folks. Be sure to check out the videos below in full HD resolution.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dOt0IaRY4U

The comparison shown is the relative difference of the ionization fraction. The colors show whether the ionization fraction is greater in radiative or non-radiative case.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL9hrmf7eps

The comparison shown is the relative difference of the density. The colors show whether the density is greater in radiative or non-radiative case.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDh4NB31e2s

The comparison shown is the relative difference of the temperature. The colors show whether the temperature is greater in radiative or non-radiative case.

Credits:

  • Science: Robert Harkness, SDSC: Daniel R. Reynolds, Southern Methodist University: Michael Norman. SDSC: Rick Wagner, SDSC
  • Visualization: Mark Hereld, Argonne National Lab: Joeseph A. Insley, Argonne National Lab: Michael E. Papka, Argonne National Lab: Venkartram Vishwanath, Argonne National Lab