Supercomputer simulations of the emergence of cosmic structures

Hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy formation have now reached
sufficient physical fidelity to allow detailed predictions for their
formation and evolution over cosmic time. I will review the
foundations of this methodology and describe results from a recent
effort to construct a new generation of structure formation models,
the IllustrisTNG simulations. These numerical simulations achieve
large enough volume to make accurate predictions for clustering on
cosmologically relevant scales, while at the same time being able to
compute detailed galaxy morphologies, the enrichment of diffuse gas
with metals, or the amplification of magnetic fields during galaxy
formation. They also support the notion that supermassive black holes
are crucial for determining the final life stages of galaxies.