This page contains videos showing the evolution of an individual galaxy, a cluster of galaxies, a slice through the simulation, and an explanation of the sonification process. There are also links to additional video galleries.
The evolution of a galaxy in the L012m5 simulation from redshift z = 5.5 to z = 0. The galaxy has a present-day stellar mass of 1010.8 M⊙, a star formation rate of 1.6 M⊙/yr, and a black hole of mass 108.2 M⊙. For another galaxy, more properties, and videos without sonification, see the video gallery for galaxy 1 or the video gallery for galaxy 2. The top left scale bar indicates a length of 10 physical kiloparsec (pkpc), which is about 32.6 thousand lightyears.
The evolution of the largest cluster of galaxies in the L050m6 simulation from redshift z = 10 to z = 0. This object has a present-day virial mass of 1014.2 M⊙. The central galaxy has a stellar mass of 1011.6 M⊙ and a supermassive black hole with a mass of 109.6 M⊙. The left panel shows stellar light, the right shows gas density. Additional gas properties are also available for simulations of this cluster with the thermal AGN feedback model, with the hybrid AGN feedback model, and with a comparison of AGN feedback models. The scale bar indicates a length of 500 physical kiloparsec (pkpc), which is about 1.6 million lightyears.
The evolution of the gas metallicity from redshift z = 17.5 to z = 0 of a 10 comoving megaparsec (cMpc) thick slice through the L050m6 simulation, which is 50 cMpc on a side (1 cMpc is about 3.3/(1+z) million lightyears). Z/Zsun is the abundance of elements heavier than helium, which are all formed in stars, relative to their abundance in the solar atmosphere. The sonification for this video is in stereo, with sound in the left (right) speaker coming from the left (right) side of the slice. See this gallery for the evolution of more properties in this box slice with both thermal and hybrid AGN feedback.
The COLIBRE videos include sonification using STRAUSS to augment what is seen. Sound is used to express the black hole accretion rate, the star formation and the energy outflow rate of galaxies as they evolve. These use rhythmic, musical and textural representations, respectively, to distinguish them. Watch the (accessible) explainer video below to understand more.