A Comparison: Galactic Formation & Evolution Through Semi-analytic and Numerical Hydrodynamic Frameworks in The Context of Extragalactic Astronomy

Abstract

In our never-ending cosmic quest to understand the origin of the universe, galactic evolution is profound, as galaxies make up a considerable portion of our universe. Additionally, understanding galactic evolution and the phenomena involved will provide us with the necessary foundation to make predictions about the fate of galaxies and our Milky Way. Although many advances have been made in the field of cosmology, our knowledge of galactic formation and evolution still possesses key gaps. To understand galactic evolution, cosmologists design models of the universe and simulate galactic evolution under the effects of dark matter, dark energy, and baryonic matter. In this article, we mainly discussed two types of frameworks used in designing galactic simulation models: the semi-analytic and numerical hydrodynamic frameworks; we also talked briefly about the N-body and Lamda Cold Dark Matter frameworks. Numerical hydrodynamic simulations provide a tool for investigating the complex and dynamic interactions between numerous physical processes. Meanwhile, semi-analytic models use analytical approximation techniques to handle a range of variables. When choosing a simulation model, the computational complexity of the hydrodynamics framework and the uncertainty of the semi-analytic models prove to be a conundrum. So, we have discussed both frameworks, comparing their advantages and limitations. We concluded that currently both frameworks complete each other’s shortcomings, and for a superior understanding of galactic formation and evolution, a more comprehensive framework that combines both approaches is needed.