Simulating cosmic metal enrichment by the first galaxies

Understand

We study cosmic metal enrichment via AMR hydrodynamical simulations in a (10 Mpc/h)$^3$ volume following the Pop III-Pop II transition and for different Pop III IMFs.

• We have analyzed the joint evolution of metal enrichment on galactic and intergalactic scales at z=6 and z=4.
• Galaxies account for <9% of the baryonic mass; the remaining gas resides in the diffuse phases: (a) voids, i.e.
• regions with extremely low density ($\Delta$<1), (b) the true intergalactic medium (IGM, 1<$\Delta$<10) and (c) the circumgalactic medium (CGM, 10<$\Delta<10^{2.5}$), the interface between the IGM and galaxies.