U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science: Studies of the Physical Properties of Galaxies with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

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9513094 Strauss This award supports a three-year cooperative research project between Dr. Michael Strauss (Princeton University) and collaborators at Princeton, the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Washington, and Dr. Masataka Fukugita (University of Kyoto) and collaborators in Kyoto and Tokyo. They plan to use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to carry out a number of investigations of the physical nature of galaxies. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey, with accurate, well-calibrated, digital images in five broad optical bands covering 1/4 of the sky, together with high-quality spectroscopic information on the million brightest galaxies, promises to allow statistical studies of the optical properties of galaxies at a level of sophistication and detail that is currently impossible with existing data. These include detailing the multivariate distribution of galaxies in magnitude, color, diameter, and morphological properties; searches for ultra-low surface brightness galaxies; the definition and study of large, complete samples of active galaxies; studies of the relative clustering of galaxies of different physical types, and stellar population studies from the galaxy spectra. This proposal will support travel between the Japanese and US astronomers to enhance collaborations. Therefore, this proposal fulfills the objectives of the Program in its exchange and transfer of scientific knowledge through an international collaboration. ***