  We describe our visualization process for a particle-based simulation of the
formation of the first stars and their impact on cosmic history. The dataset
consists of several hundred time-steps of point simulation data, with each
time-step containing approximately two million point particles. For each
time-step, we interpolate the point data onto a regular grid using a method
taken from the radiance estimate of photon mapping. We import the resulting
regular grid representation into ParaView, with which we extract isosurfaces
across multiple variables. Our images provide insights into the evolution of
the early universe, tracing the cosmic transition from an initially homogeneous
state to one of increasing complexity. Specifically, our visualizations capture
the build-up of regions of ionized gas around the first stars, their evolution,
and their complex interactions with the surrounding matter. These observations
will guide the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, the key astronomy mission
of the next decade.
