Clusters of Galaxies: Key to Galaxy Evolution and Cosmological Physics

Sarah Hansen博士被授予美国国家科学基金会天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在加州大学圣克鲁斯分校开展研究和教育项目。汉森博士将利用新的和最近的星系团观测来解决星系演化和宇宙学中的关键突出问题。PI将描述在联合光学和Sunyaev-Zeldovich （SZ）巡天中发现的z~1星系团中的星系群。她将利用这些系统的光学特性的测量分布来(a)约束星系形成和演化的模型，(b)通过减少质量-可观测关系中的散射来改进宇宙学参数的估计。这项工作将是第一次用来自SZ调查的星系团样本来研究大质量暗物质晕中的星系演化。汉森还将与加州州立数学与科学暑期学校（COSMOS）项目合作，开发一门课程，旨在与来自加州的有前途的高中生分享天体物理学探索和研究的兴奋。此外，通过与加州教育（CalTeach）项目的合作，汉森博士将在高中科学课程中提供与天体物理学相关的教师培训和专业发展机会。

Dr. Sarah Hansen is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Dr. Hansen will utilize new and recent observations of galaxy clusters to address key outstanding issues in galaxy evolution and cosmology. The PI will characterize the population of galaxies in clusters to z~1 identified in a joint optical and Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) survey. She will use the measured distribution of optical properties of these systems to (a) constrain models of galaxy formation and evolution and (b) improve cosmological parameter estimation by decreasing the scatter in the mass-observable relationship. This work will be the first time that the evolution of galaxies in massive dark matter halos has been studied with a sample of clusters derived from an SZ survey.Dr. Hansen will also partner with the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) program to develop a course designed to share the excitement of astrophysical inquiry and research with promising high school students from California. Furthermore, by partnering with the California Teach (CalTeach) program, Dr. Hansen will initiate opportunities for teacher training and professional development relating to astrophysics in the high school science curriculum.