Dave R. Simulating the Cosmos. Why the Universe Looks the Way It Does 2023

Textbook in PDF format

'Simulating the Cosmos explains beautifully and authoritatively how astrophysicists simulate the formation and evolution of galaxies in the expanding universe, and how we test our theories by comparing simulations with observations.' - Joel Primack, Distinguished Professor of Physics Emeritus, UCSC, and recipient of the American Physical Society Lilienfeld Prize 2020
Simulating the Cosmos is a behind-the-scenes look into one of the hottest and fastest-moving areas of astrophysics today: simulations of cosmology and galaxy formation, which illustrate how everything we see in the universe arose out of the primordial soup of the Big Bang.
Leading cosmologist Romeel Davé guides you through the trials and tribulations of what it takes to put the universe into a computer, the amazing new insights revealed by cosmological simulations, and the many mysteries yet to be solved. This rollicking and extraordinary journey is a rare glimpse into science in action, showing how cosmologists are using the laws of physics and supercomputers to uncover the secrets of why the universe looks the way it does.
Introduction
The Cosmological Framework
Putting the Universe on a Computer
The Simulated Universe: Halos in a Web
A Universe of Galaxies
Galaxy Formation Simulations in the Modern Era
The Future Is Now
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index