The Distribution of Young Stars and Metals in Simulated Cosmological Disk Galaxies

Abstract

We examine the distribution of young stars associated with the spiral arms of a simulated L* cosmological disk galaxy. We find age patterns orthogonal to the arms which are not inconsistent with the predictions of classical density wave theory, a view further supported by recent observations of face-on Grand Design spirals such as M51. The distribution of metals within a simulated ~0.1L* disk is presented, reinforcing the link between star formation, the age-metallicity relation, and the metallicity distribution function.