Exploring Galaxy Evolution as a Function of Environment Using Submillimeter Galaxies as Signposts of Protoclusters

Karin Menendez-Delmestre博士被授予NSF天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在华盛顿卡内基研究所的天文台开展一项研究和教育计划。梅嫩德斯-德尔梅斯特博士将对高红移的原始星系团进行多波长研究，该研究将使用亚毫米星系作为这些大规模结构的路标。该计划的目的将是研究星系属性和它们的原始星系团环境之间的关系。形态-密度关系，特别是解决星系形态在星系团内的分布，已经在z1建立。梅嫩德斯-德尔梅斯特博士将扩展现有的星系演化知识，将其作为环境的函数，纳入其他星系属性(形态、大小、恒星形成率、恒星年龄、恒星质量、金属度、流出和活动星系核活动)，并将研究扩展到亚毫米星系z~1-3追踪的较高红移。这项研究的主要组成部分是使用Persson的辅助Nasmyth红外相机(Panic)和麦哲伦望远镜上的稻盛麦哲伦区域相机和光谱仪(IMACS)对单个原星系团成员进行详细的光谱和光度观测。梅嫩德斯-德尔梅斯特还将通过加强与格里菲斯天文台现有的非正式联系，扩大卡内基对洛杉矶社区更广泛领域的外联和教育的承诺。格里菲斯天文台是洛杉矶社区公认的领导者，作为公共教育中心。洛杉矶的拉美裔人口超过50%，非常适合发展专门针对拉美裔社区的教育推广计划。梅嫩德斯-德尔梅斯特博士将担任由Laura Danly博士(格里菲斯天文台馆长)领导的格里菲斯项目团队的策展顾问：(1)帮助实施格里菲斯学校针对小学生的天文项目；(2)培训天文台导游；(3)审查天文台教材的准确性；以及(4)帮助在格里菲斯组织与天文学相关的公共活动。

Dr. Karin Menendez-Delmestre is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Dr. Menendez-Delmestre will conduct a multi-wavelength study of proto-clusters at high redshift that will use submillimeter galaxies as signposts of these large-scale structures. The aim of the program will be to investigate the relationship between galaxy properties and their proto-cluster environment.The morphology-density relation, which particularly addresses the distribution of galaxy morphologies within clusters, has been established at z 1. Dr. Menendez-Delmestre will extend current knowledge of galaxy evolution as a function of environment to incorporate other galaxy properties (morphologies, sizes, star-formation rates, stellar ages, stellar masses, metallicities, outflows and active galactic nuclei activity) and to extend the study out to the higher redshifts traced by submillimeter galaxies, z ~ 1-3. Major components to this research are detailed spectroscopic and photometric observations of individual proto-cluster members using Persson's Auxilliary Nasmyth Infrared Camera (PANIC) and the Inamori Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph (IMACS) on the Magellan Telescope.Dr. Menendez-Delmestre will also extend Carnegie's commitment to outreach and education towards a broader section of the Los Angeles community by strengthening the existing, yet informal ties with the Griffith Observatory, a well recognized leader in the Los Angeles community as a center of public education. With a Hispanic population greater than 50%, Los Angeles is an exceptionally well suited area to develop educational outreach programs that specifically target the Hispanic community. Dr. Menendez-Delmestre will serve as a Curatorial Advisor to the Griffith program team led by Dr. Laura Danly (Curator, Griffith Observatory) by: (1) helping in the implementation of a Griffith school astronomy program directed at elementary-school children; (2) training Observatory guides; (3) reviewing the accuracy of the Observatory's educational materials; and (4) helping to organize public, astronomy-related activities at Griffith.