TY - JOUR
T1 - Perspective
T2 - Numerical simulations unravel the cosmic web
AU - Faucher-Giguère, Claude André
AU - Lidz, Adam
AU - Hernquist, Lars
PY - 2008/1/4
Y1 - 2008/1/4
N2 - The universe is permeated by a network of filaments, sheets, and knots collectively forming a "cosmic web." The discovery of the cosmic web, especially through its signature of absorption of light from distant sources by neutral hydrogen in the intervening intergalactic medium, exemplifies the interplay between theory and experiment that drives science and is one of the great examples in which numerical simulations have played a key and decisive role. We recount the milestones in our understanding of cosmic structure; summarize its impact on astronomy, cosmology, and physics; and look ahead by outlining the challenges faced as we prepare to probe the cosmic web at new wavelengths.
AB - The universe is permeated by a network of filaments, sheets, and knots collectively forming a "cosmic web." The discovery of the cosmic web, especially through its signature of absorption of light from distant sources by neutral hydrogen in the intervening intergalactic medium, exemplifies the interplay between theory and experiment that drives science and is one of the great examples in which numerical simulations have played a key and decisive role. We recount the milestones in our understanding of cosmic structure; summarize its impact on astronomy, cosmology, and physics; and look ahead by outlining the challenges faced as we prepare to probe the cosmic web at new wavelengths.
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U2 - 10.1126/science.1151476
DO - 10.1126/science.1151476
M3 - Review article
C2 - 18174431
AN - SCOPUS:37849014184
VL - 319
SP - 52
EP - 55
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5859
ER -