ABSTRACT:
Recent pioneering COS observations have allowed for detailed studies of the circum-galactic medium (CGM) around galaxies at low redshift. However, due to the complexity of including the necessary physics in simulations, a solid theoretical foundation for understanding the intricate interplay between gaseous inflows from the IGM, galactic winds, and gas recycling has been lacking. In this talk, I will present results from cosmological hydrodynamic simulations that include these physical processes in order to develop a model for this baryon cycle of gas around galaxies. I discuss the extent and strength of HI and metals in the neighborhood of galaxies, as well as the typical temperatures, densities, and ionization conditions of the gas that gives rise to absorption features.
I additionally demonstrate the sensitivity of these observables to the details of how galactic super-winds are modeled, and how different feedback prescriptions leave unique, observable signatures within the CGM. Finally, I will discuss observable diagnostics of inflows and outflows, key to our understanding of galaxy evolution.