Using Lyman Alpha Galaxies to Understand Galaxy Formation and Cosmological Reionization

ast - 0808165rhoadslyman - α发射一直被预测为原始星系形成的标志。该项目将通过以下方式描述莱曼-阿尔法星系的性质和演化：(1)通过窄带成像确定这些星系中恒星群的质量和年龄；(2)利用迄今为止最大面积的Lyman-alpha搜索结果，确定了星系的晕占比分布和Lyman-alpha发射的占空比；(3)确定Lyman-alpha星系性质随红移的演化；(4)确定再电离的时代、速度和非均匀性；(5)利用近红外观测获得了Lyman-alpha星系在红移7.7和8.8处对IGM中性分数的约束。这些调查补充了冈恩-彼得森测试和微波背景偏振测量的结果，预计将发现大约80个星系。预期发现的“最遥远星系”，甚至是整个星系群，可能会引起巨大的轰动。结果将包括在亚利桑那州立大学的课程中，亚利桑那州立大学致力于鼓励在科学领域代表性不足的群体，特别是美国原住民和西班牙裔学生。为这项研究提供的过滤器将提供给整个社区，减少的数据和添加到数据处理管道中的任何改进也将提供给整个社区。这将使整个社区的用户受益。

AST-0808165RhoadsLyman-alpha emission has long been predicted as a signpost of primitive galaxies in formation. This project will characterize the nature and evolution of Lyman-alpha galaxies by: (1) determining the mass and ages of the stellar populations in these galaxies by narrow-band imaging; (2) using the results of the largest area Lyman-alpha search to date to determine the halo occupation distribution of galaxies and the duty cycle of Lyman-alpha emission; (3) determining the evolution in properties of Lyman-alpha galaxies as a function of redshift; (4) determining the epoch, pace and inhomogeneity of reionization; and (5) using near-infrared surveys to obtain Lyman-alpha galaxy constraints on the IGM neutral fraction at redshifts 7.7 and 8.8. These surveys complement results from the Gunn-Peterson test and the microwave background polarization measurements, and are expected to discover some eighty galaxies.The anticipated discovery of the 'most distant galaxy', or even a whole population of them, could generate significant publicity. Results will be included in courses at ASU, which is committed to encouraging under-represented groups in science, especially Native American and Hispanic students. Filters provided for this study will be available to the whole community, as will the reduced data and any improvements added to the data processing pipeline. This will benefit a whole community of users.