Dwarf galaxies in cosmological simulations of galaxy formation

Dwarf galaxies are the lowest mass galaxies in the Universe but they are key laboratories for understanding galaxy formation processes, since their properties are sensitive to how these processes are in play. Moreover they are strong probes for cosmology and dark matter properties. There are long standing debates in the literature on whether the observed properties of dwarf galaxies are consistent with the predictions of the standard model of cosmology. In particular, their predicted number, spatial distribution and internal structure have historically been at odds with observations. In this seminar, I will go over the key challenges of understanding dwarf galaxies in the cosmological context of galaxy formation. I will discuss how some the historical “tensions” have been (or can be) addressed in recent cosmological simulations that include complex physics of galaxy formation.