Stellar feedback in galaxies and the origin of galaxy-scale winds

Feedback from massive stars is believed to play a critical role in driving galactic super-winds that enrich the intergalactic medium and shape the galaxy mass function, mass-metallicity relation and other global galaxy properties. In previous papers, we have introduced new numerical methods for implementing stellar feedback on sub-giant molecular cloud (sub-GMC) through galactic scales in numerical simulations of galaxies; the key physical processes include radiation pressure in the ultraviolet through infrared, supernovae (Type I and Type II), stellar winds ('fast' O star through 'slow' asymptotic giant branch winds), and H II photoionization. Here, we show that these feedback mechanisms drive galactic winds…

• DA
  David and Lucile Packard Foundation
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Award: NNG06GI68G
• AC
  Adolph C. and Mary Sprague Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California Berkeley
• CR
  Canada Research Chairs
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada