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
Bush S
(2014)
A PILOT STUDY USING DEEP INFRARED IMAGING TO CONSTRAIN THE STAR FORMATION HISTORY OF THE XUV STELLAR POPULATIONS IN NGC 4625
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kostrzewa-Rutkowska Z
(2013)
A PLAUSIBLE (OVERLOOKED) SUPER-LUMINOUS SUPERNOVA IN THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY STRIPE 82 DATA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Conrad C
(2014)
A RAVE investigation on Galactic open clusters I. Radial velocities and metallicities?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Becker G
(2013)
A refined measurement of the mean transmitted flux in the Lya forest over 2 < z < 5 using composite quasar spectra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nardini E
(2011)
A reflection origin for the soft and hard X-ray excess of Ark 120 Blurred X-ray reflection in Ark 120
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Madej O
(2010)
A relativistically broadened O viii Lya line in the ultracompact X-ray binary 4U 0614+091
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Grupe D
(2012)
A REMARKABLE LONG-TERM LIGHT CURVE AND DEEP, LOW-STATE SPECTROSCOPY: SWIFT AND XMM-NEWTON MONITORING OF THE NLS1 GALAXY Mkn 335
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Hughes T
(2014)
A resolved analysis of cold dust and gas in the nearby edge-on spiral NGC 891
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Obreschkow D
(2013)
A ROBUST MEASURE OF COSMIC STRUCTURE BEYOND THE POWER SPECTRUM: COSMIC FILAMENTS AND THE TEMPERATURE OF DARK MATTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kanekar N
(2013)
A search for H i 21 cm absorption towards a radio-selected quasar sample - II. A new low spin temperature DLA at high redshift
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society