Galaxy formation and evolution 2010 - 2015
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of Astronomy
Abstract
TThis programmatic five-year rolling grant application addresses one of the most important problems in extragalactic astronomy, the formation and evolution of galaxies. The task is one of the key goals in the current STFC Road Map and is a defining objective of virtually every national decadal survey world-wide. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 Gyr provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. Finally, measurements of the large-scale star formation and abundance properties of nearby galaxies form a vital astrophysical bridge between the studies of nearby resolved stellar populations and the distant high-redshift investigations, by allowing us to characterise the evolutionary properties of the Hubble sequence and the complex ``gastrophysical'' processes that regulate the accretion of gas and the formation of stars in galaxies. In this rolling grant application we propose a series of investigations that will advance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution on all three fronts.
Organisations
Publications
Goddard Q
(2010)
On the nature of the H ii regions in the extended ultraviolet disc of NGC 4625 H ii regions in the XUV disc of NGC 4625
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fulbright J
(2010)
THE RAVE SURVEY: RICH IN VERY METAL-POOR STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Babak S
(2010)
The Mock LISA Data Challenges: from challenge 3 to challenge 4
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Salvatore M
(2010)
Definitive evidence of Hesperian basalt in Acidalia and Chryse planitiae
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Peñarrubia J
(2010)
Was the progenitor of the Sagittarius stream a disc galaxy?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Canning R
(2010)
Star formation in the outer filaments of NGC 1275 Star formation in NGC 1275
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tafelmeyer M
(2010)
Extremely metal-poor stars in classical dwarf spheroidal galaxies: Fornax, Sculptor, and Sextans
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jonker P
(2010)
A bright off-nuclear X-ray source: a type IIn supernova, a bright ULX or a recoiling supermassive black hole in CXO J122518.6+144545 A bright off-nuclear X-ray source
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Li Y
(2010)
SPITZER 70 µm EMISSION AS A STAR FORMATION RATE INDICATOR FOR SUB-GALACTIC REGIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reddy N
(2010)
DUST OBSCURATION AND METALLICITY AT HIGH REDSHIFT: NEW INFERENCES FROM UV, Ha, AND 8 µm OBSERVATIONS OF z ~ 2 STAR-FORMING GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal