EvoL: The new Padova T-SPH parallel code for cosmological simulations - I. Basic code: gravity and hydrodynamics

TL;DR

EvoL is a new parallel Fortran95 code for cosmological simulations that combines advanced gravity and hydrodynamics algorithms, optimized for multi-CPU performance in galaxy formation studies.

Contribution

It introduces EvoL, a flexible, self-adaptive Tree + SPH code with modern features for cosmological structure formation simulations.

Findings

Successfully performs standard hydrodynamical tests

Demonstrates efficient parallel performance

Includes advanced adaptive softening and SPH formulations

Abstract

We present EvoL, the new release of the Padova N-body code for cosmological simulations of galaxy formation and evolution. In this paper, the basic Tree + SPH code is presented and analysed, together with an overview on the software architectures. EvoL is a flexible parallel Fortran95 code, specifically designed for simulations of cosmological structure formation on cluster, galactic and sub-galactic scales. EvoL is a fully Lagrangian self-adaptive code, based on the classical Oct-tree and on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics algorithm. It includes special features such as adaptive softening lengths with correcting extra-terms, and modern formulations of SPH and artificial viscosity. It is designed to be run in parallel on multiple CPUs to optimize the performance and save computational time. We describe the code in detail, and present the results of a number of standard hydrodynamical tests.