arXiv subjects

Leonard E. C. Romano

Publications and source records attributed to Leonard E. C. Romano.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

FRANZ: Framework for analytical one-zone blastwave dynamics

(abridged) We develop a flexible analytical framework for modeling blastwave evolution in arbitrary environments and use it to investigate how large-scale galactic structure affects the dynamics and morphology of evolved SNRs and SBs. We introduce FRANZ (FRamework for ANalytical one-Zone blastwave dynamics), a modular thin-shell model that follows the local evolution of a shock-surface segment in environments characterized by arbitrary density, velocity and gravitational fields. After validating the model against well-established analytical results, we apply it to study the effects of vertical stratification, galactic shear and dense galactic substructure on blastwave evolution. FRANZ reproduces the classical evolution of blastwaves in uniform media while extending to complex environments. We derive criteria for disk break out in stratified media, characterize the timescales on which differential rotation deforms blastwaves and identify a new mechanism, by which it can suppress the momentum coupling in continuously-driven blastwaves. Interactions with dense filaments modify both shock-surface morphology and dynamics and confound the interpretation of the expansion history of observed remnants, which depends on the density distribution prior to the onset of explosions, which is fundamentally inaccessible from the observed state. In highly structured media with a high volume-filling factor of diffuse gas, ages inferred from the observed state may be systematically overestimated. FRANZ provides a computationally inexpensive and extensible framework for studying blastwaves in realistic galactic environments. It offers a useful complement to numerical simulations for interpreting observations of evolved SNRs and SBs and for developing improved models of stellar feedback in large-scale simulations.

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arXiv2026

SISSI: Supernovae in a stratified, shearing interstellar medium. II. Star formation near the Sun is quenched by expansion of the Local Bubble

The age of the Local Bubble (LB) constrains the timescale on which the interstellar medium in the solar neighborhood evolves. Previous estimates placed the age of the LB at \sim 14 Myr, and attributed its expansion to \sim 15-20 supernovae (SNe), yet a companion paper suggests this age may be overestimated. We place new constraints on the age of the LB and re-evaluate the question whether its expansion triggered or suppressed local star formation. We reconstruct the LB's geometry and momentum using publicly available 3D dust maps and compare them to the high-quality sample of simulated supernova remnants in the SISSI project. Independent constraints on the star-formation history and supernova rate are obtained from a Gaia DR3-based census of nearby star clusters. We find that \sim 7-59 SNe over \sim 5.8 Myr to \sim 2.8 Myr, respectively, are required to explain both the LB's momentum and size and confirm that such a high supernova rate can be sustained by local star clusters. Our analysis yields a substantially smaller LB age than previous estimates, requiring a correspondingly larger number of SNe, driving its expansion. We show that this result is in tension with the conclusion that the LB is powered solely by SNe from the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association, which ceased star formation around the time the LB formed. If our estimates are correct, it follows that the majority of star formation in the solar neighborhood happened before the formation of the LB and was not triggered by its expansion. Instead, the SNe that powered the LB appear to overall have quenched the ongoing star formation process. This does not rule out that star formation in the clouds, located near its current edge, could have been affected by the LB expansion.

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arXiv2025

Cosmic Rays in Galaxy Halos: Impacts on Galactic Outflows and Baryon Cycling

Galaxies with high star-formation rate surface densities often host large-scale outflows that redistribute energy, momentum, and baryons between the interstellar medium and the halo, making them a key feedback channel regulating galaxy evolution. Despite their importance, the driving physics behind galactic outflows and their interaction with the surrounding halo is yet to be fully understood. In particular, the influence of a pre-existing reservoir of cosmic rays (CRs) in galaxy halos has not been clearly established. We determine the conditions required to launch outflows in the presence of halo CRs and investigate how CR pressure gradients modify outflow speeds. We find that CR halos suppress the development of large-scale, CR-driven winds and redirect CR feedback toward local recycling flows. Slow outflows are therefore more likely in young galaxies lacking extended CR halos, while fast winds in intense starbursts are dominated by momentum injection and largely unaffected by halo CRs.

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arXiv2025

Evolution of galaxy attenuation curves driven by evolving dust mass and grain size distributions

We investigate the impacts of the evolution of dust mass and grain size distribution within a Milky Way-like (MW-like) galaxy simulation on global attenuation curves, focusing on the optical-UV slope and the 2175 $AA$ bump. We discuss the contributions of star-dust geometry, scattering, and dust properties. Post-processing dust radiative transfer was performed using SKIRT based on the MW-like galaxy simulation. The simulation was carried out with GADGET4-OSAKA, which models the evolution of grain size distributions. For lower inclination angles (closer to face-on), the attenuation curve flattens over time up to t=1 Gyr, then becomes progressively steeper. This steeper slope arises from the interplay between scattering and the dust disk becoming more extended over time (changes in star-dust geometry). At higher inclination, scattering is suppressed, and the attenuation curves slightly steepen over time due to small-grain formation and the bias of observed UV light toward older stars. The bump strengthens on a timescale of ~250 Myr due to the formation of small carbonaceous grains. The bump strength is affected not only by the abundance of small grains but also by star-dust geometry. At higher $A_V$ or higher inclination, the bump weakens. These results may help interpret flatter attenuation curves and weaker bumps in high-redshift galaxies. Variations in star-dust geometry alter the amount of scattered photons escaping the galaxy, driving the anti-correlation between the slope and $A_V$. Scatter in this relation arises from differences in dust optical depth along and perpendicular to the line of sight, reflecting inclination and star-dust geometry. Additional contributions come from variations in grain size distribution and the fraction of obscured young stars.

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arXiv2025

Starburst-Driven Galactic Outflows -- Unveiling the Suppressive Role of Cosmic Ray Halos

Aims. We investigate the role of cosmic ray (CR) halos in shaping the properties of starburst-driven galactic outflows. Methods. We develop a microphysical model for galactic outflows driven by a continuous central feedback source, incorporating a simplified treatment of CRs. The model parameters are linked to the effective properties of a starburst. By analyzing its asymptotic behavior, we derive a criterion for launching starburst-driven galactic outflows and determine the corresponding outflow velocities. Results. We find that in the absence of CRs, galactic outflows can only be launched if the star-formation rate (SFR) surface density exceeds a critical threshold proportional to the dynamical equilibrium pressure. In contrast, CRs can always drive slow outflows. CRs dominate in systems with SFR surface densities below the critical threshold but become negligible in highly star-forming systems. However, in older systems with established CR halos, the CR contribution to outflows diminishes once the outflow reaches the galactic scale height, rendering CRs ineffective in sustaining outflows in such systems. Conclusions. Over cosmic time, galaxies accumulate relic CRs in their halos, providing additional non-thermal pressure support that suppresses low-velocity CR-driven outflows. We predict that such low-velocity outflows are expected only in young systems that have not yet built up significant CR halos. In contrast, fast outflows in starburst galaxies, where the SFR surface density exceeds the critical threshold, are primarily driven by momentum injection and remain largely unaffected by CR halos.

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arXiv2025

SISSI: Supernovae in a stratified, shearing interstellar medium -- I. The geometry of supernova remnants

Aims. We introduce the SISSI (Supernovae In a Stratified, Shearing Interstellar medium) simulation suite, which aims to enable a more comprehensive understanding of supernova remnants (SNRs) evolving in a complex interstellar medium (ISM) structured under the influence of galactic rotation, gravity and turbulence. Methods. We utilize zoom-in simulations of 30 SNRs expanding in the ISM of a simulated isolated disk galaxy. The ISM of the galaxy is resolved down to a maximum resolution of $\sim 12\,\text{pc}$, while we achieve a zoomed-in resolution of $\sim 0.18\, \text{pc}$ in the vicinity of the explosion sources. We compute the time-evolution of the SNRs' geometry and compare it to the observed geometry of the Local Bubble. Results. During the early stages of evolution, SNRs are well described by existing analytical models. On longer timescales, starting at about a percent of the orbital timescale, they depart from spherical symmetry and become increasingly prolate or oblate. The timescale for the departure from spherical symmetry is shorter than the expectation from a simple model for the deformation by galactic shear, suggesting that galactic shear alone cannot explain these differences. Yet, the alignment of the minor- and major axis of the SNRs is in line with expectations from said model, indicating that the deformation might have a shear-related origin. A comparison with the geometry of the Local Bubble reveals that it might be slightly younger than previously believed, but otherwise has a standard morphology for a SNR of its age and size. Conclusions. Studying the geometry of SNRs can reveal valuable insights about the complex interactions shaping their dynamical evolution. Future studies targeting the geometry of Galactic SNRs may use this insight to obtain a clearer picture of the processes shaping the Galactic ISM.

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arXiv2024

Observational signatures of the dust size evolution in isolated galaxy simulations

We aim to provide observational signatures of the dust size evolution in the ISM. In particular, we explore indicators of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mass fraction ($q_{PAH}$), defined as the mass fraction of PAHs relative to total dust grains. In addition, we validate our dust evolution model by comparing the observational signatures from our simulations to observations. We used the hydrodynamic simulation code, GADGET4-OSAKA to model the dust properties of Milky Way-like and NGC 628-like galaxies representing star-forming galaxies. This code incorporates the evolution of grain size distributions driven by dust production and interstellar processing. Furthermore, we performed post-processing dust radiative transfer with SKIRT based on the simulations to predict the observational properties. We find that the intensity ratio between 8 um and 24 um is correlated with $q_{PAH}$ and can be used as an indicator of PAH mass fraction. However, this ratio is influenced by the radiation field. We suggest the 8 um-to-total infrared intensity ratio ($νI_ν(8 μm)/I$(TIR)) as another indicator, since it is tightly correlated with $q_{PAH}$. Furthermore, we explored the spatially resolved $q_{PAH}$ in the simulated Milky Way-like galaxy using $νI_ν(8 μm)/I$(TIR). We find that the spatially resolved $q_{PAH}$ increases with metallicity at metallicity at Z<0.2 Zsun due to the interplay between accretion and shattering while it decreases at Z>0.2 Zsun because of coagulation. Finally, we compared the above indicators in the NGC 628-like simulation with those observed in NGC 628 by recent observations. Consequently, we find that our simulation underestimates the PAH mass fraction throughout the entire galaxy by a factor of $\sim 8$ on average. This could be due to the efficient loss of PAHs by coagulation in our model.

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arXiv2024

Cloud Formation by Supernova Implosion

The deposition of energy and momentum by supernova explosions has been subject to numerous studies in the past few decades. However, while there has been some work that focused on the transition from the adiabatic to the radiative stage of a supernova remnant (SNR), the late radiative stage and merging with the interstellar medium (ISM) have received little attention. Here, we use three-dimensional, hydrodynamic simulations, focusing on the evolution of SNRs during the radiative phase, considering a wide range of physical explosion parameters ($n_{\text{H, ISM}} \in \left[0.1, 100\right] \text{cm}^{-3}$ and $E_{\text{SN}} \in \left[1, 14\right]\times 10^{51} \text{erg}$). We find that the radiative phase can be subdivided in four stages: A pressure driven snowplow phase during which the hot overpressurized bubble gas is evacuated and pushed into the cold shell, a momentum conserving snowplow phase which is accompanied by a broadening of the shell, an implosion phase where cold material from the back of the shell is flooding the central vacuum and a final cloud phase, during which the imploding gas is settling as a central, compact overdensity. The launching timescale for the implosion ranges from a few 100 kyr to a few Myr, while the cloud formation timescale ranges from a few to about 10 Myr. The highly chemically enriched clouds can become massive ($M_{\text{cl}} \sim 10^3 - 10^4 \, \text{M}_{\odot}$) and self-gravitating within a few Myr after their formation, providing an attractive, novel pathway for supernova induced star and planet formation in the ISM.

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arXiv2022

Dust diffusion in SPH simulations of an isolated galaxy

We compute the evolution of the grain size distribution (GSD) in a suite of numerical simulations of an isolated Milky-Way-like galaxy using the $N$-body/smoothed-particle-hydrodynamics code {\sc Gadget-4}. The full GSD is sampled on a logarithmically spaced grid with 30 bins, and its evolution is calculated self-consistently with the hydrodynamical and chemical evolution of the galaxy using a state-of-the-art star formation and feedback model. In previous versions of this model, the GSD tended to be slightly biased towards larger grains and the extinction curve had a tendency to be flatter than the observations. This work addresses these issues by considering the diffusion of dust and metals through turbulence on subgrid scales and introducing a multi-phase subgrid model that enables a smoother transition from diffuse to dense gas. We show that diffusion can significantly enhance the production of small grains and improve the agreement with the observed dust extinction curve in the Milky Way.

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arXiv2022

The co-evolution of molecular hydrogen and the grain size distribution in an isolated galaxy

Understanding the evolution of dust and molecular hydrogen (H$_2$) is a critical aspect of galaxy evolution, as they affect star formation and the spectral energy distribution of galaxies. We use the $N$-body/smoothed-particle-hydrodynamics code {\sc Gadget-4} to compute the evolution of dust and H$_2$ in a suite of numerical simulations of an isolated Milky-Way-like galaxy. The evolution of the full grain size distribution (GSD) is solved by sampling the grain size on a logarithmically spaced grid with 30 bins. The evolution of a primordial chemistry network with twelve species is solved consistently with the hydrodynamic evolution of the system, including star formation, metal and energy ejections from stars into the interstellar medium through supernova feedback and stellar winds. The formation model for H$_2$ considers the GSD and photo-dissociation through the UV radiation of young stars. We identify the processes needed for producing a sizeable amount of H$_2$, verify that the resulting star formation law in the later stages of galaxy evolution is consistent with observations of local spirals, and show that our model manages to produce a galactic molecular gas fraction in line with observations of Milky-Way-like galaxies. We stress the importance of the co-evolution of the GSD and H$_2$, as models assuming a fixed MRN shape for the GSD overestimate the production of H$_2$ in regimes where the dust abundance is dominated by large grains and underestimate it in the regime where the dust is dominated by small grains, both of which are realized in simulations of dust evolution.

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