The Galactic Dust-Up: Modeling Dust Evolution in FIRE

Understand

Recent strides have been made developing dust evolution models for galaxy formation simulations but these approaches vary in their assumptions and degree of complexity.

• Here we introduce and compare two separate dust evolution models (labelled 'Elemental' and 'Species'), based on recent approaches, incorporated into the GIZMO code and coupled with FIRE-2 stellar feedback and ISM physics.
• Both models account for turbulent dust diffusion, stellar production of dust, dust growth via gas-dust accretion, and dust destruction from time-resolved supernovae, thermal sputtering in hot gas, and astration.
• The "Elemental" model tracks the evolution of generalized dust species and utilizes a simple, 'tunable' dust growth routine, while the "Species" model tracks the evolution of specific dust species with set chemical compositions and incorporates a physically motivated, two-phase dust growth routine.