Numerical Simulations Unravel the Cosmic Web
Claude-André Faucher-Giguère,*
Adam Lidz,
Lars Hernquist
The universe is permeated by a network of filaments, sheets,
and knots collectively forming a "cosmic web." The discovery
of the cosmic web, especially through its signature of absorption
of light from distant sources by neutral hydrogen in the intervening
intergalactic medium, exemplifies the interplay between theory
and experiment that drives science and is one of the great examples
in which numerical simulations have played a key and decisive
role. We recount the milestones in our understanding of cosmic
structure; summarize its impact on astronomy, cosmology, and
physics; and look ahead by outlining the challenges faced as
we prepare to probe the cosmic web at new wavelengths.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cgiguere{at}cfa.harvard.edu
