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The focus of this talk is to address the spatial structure and evolution of star formation and the interstellar medium (ISM) in interacting galaxies. We use an extensive suite of parsec-scale galaxy merger simulations, which employs the ’Feedback In Realistic Environments’ model (FIRE). This framework resolves star formation, feedback processes, and the multi-phase structure of the ISM. We find that close encounters augment molecular gas and star formation in the centre of galaxies, and suppress these budgets at large galactocentric radii. We also find that nuclear enhanced star formation is primarily driven my the increased presence of molecular gas fuel, but the most intense starbursts are driven by star-formation efficiency. Our numerical predictions underscore the need of substantially larger, and/or merger-dedicated, spatially-resolved (integral-field spectroscopic) galaxy surveys -- capable of examining vast and diverse samples of interacting systems -- coupled with multi-wavelength campaigns aimed to capture their internal ISM structure. Lastly, if time allows, I will also speak of dark matter free dwarf galaxies in FIREBox, a cosmological simulation of galaxy formation with FIRE. See also: https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.11289 |
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