Theory for SDSS-III

SDSS-III是斯隆数字巡天的第三阶段，将产生前所未有的光谱数据集，用于研究宇宙的物质和能量含量、宇宙学初始条件和星系形成的物理学。 该项目涵盖针对SDSS-III四项调查中的两项的理论研究：BOSS，重子振荡光谱调查，将测量150万个发光星系的红移和15万个类星体的莱曼α森林光谱，以及APOGEE，阿帕奇点天文台星系演化实验，它将测量来自银河系各个区域的10万颗恒星的高分辨率近红外光谱。BOSS中类星体视线的高密度使莱曼的三维处理成为可能。大规模的阿尔法森林 温伯格博士和合作者将使用分析模型来研究跨视线通量统计对宇宙学参数的敏感性。 他们将设计数值方法，以高精度数据所要求的精度预测这些统计数据，并将研究可能在三维森林或近距离类星体对测量中检测到的氦-II再电离的可能特征。 该团队将把晕占据分布（HOD）模型应用于BOSS星系地图，以推断发光星系的生长和合并历史。 对于APOGEE数据，研究小组将构建预测模型，将化学演化处方与冷暗物质宇宙中盘状星系形成的数值模拟相结合，并将其与APOGEE革命性的银河系详细观测数据集相结合，以测试星系形成理论。 各种模拟，包括孤立演化的盘，暗物质暗晕和合并卫星扰动的盘，以及流体动力学模拟，将使研究小组能够隔离不同的物理效应SDSS-III将在天文学界内外产生巨大影响，通过创建公共数据档案，使广泛的科学调查和教育活动成为可能。 通过加强他对SDSS-III的科学参与，这项研究将支持温伯格博士作为SDSS-III项目科学家的作用，与四个调查的科学团队合作，以确保他们产生高质量的数据集。 温伯格博士还将继续与麦克阿瑟奖获奖艺术家约西亚·麦克尔亨尼（Josiah McElheny）的多年合作，利用宇宙学灵感的雕塑作为面向科学和艺术观众的公共宣传的基础。

SDSS-III, the third phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, will produce unprecedented spectroscopic data sets for studying the matter and energy contents of the universe, cosmological initial conditions, and the physics of galaxy formation. This project covers theoretical research targeted at two of the four SDSS-III surveys: BOSS, the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, which will measure redshifts of one-and-a-half million luminous galaxies and Lyman-alpha forest spectra of a hundred and fifty thousand quasars, and APOGEE, the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment, which will measure high-resolution near-infrared spectra of a hundred thousand stars from all regions of the Milky Way.The high density of quasar sightlines in BOSS enables a three-dimensional treatment of the Lyman-alpha forest on large scales. Dr. Weinberg and collaborators will use analytic models to investigate the sensitivity of cross-sightline flux statistics to cosmological parameters. They will devise numerical methods to predict these statistics with the accuracy demanded by high-precision data, and they will investigate possible signatures of Helium-II reionization that might be detectable in the 3-D forest or in measurements of close quasar pairs. The team will apply halo occupation distribution (HOD) modeling to BOSS galaxy maps to infer the growth and merger history of luminous galaxies. They will use HOD-based methods to sharpen the cosmological constraints from BOSS.For the APOGEE data, the research team will construct predictive models that combine chemical evolution prescriptions with numerical simulations of disk galaxy formation in a cold dark matter universe, and combine them with APOGEE's revolutionary data set of detailed observations of the Milky Way, to test galaxy formation theory. A variety of simulations, including disks evolved in isolation, disks perturbed by dark matter subhalos and merging satellites, and hydrodynamic simulations, will enable the research group to isolate different physical effects.SDSS-III will have an enormous impact within the astronomical community and beyond, by creating public data archives that enable a broad range of scientific investigations and educational activities. By enhancing his scientific involvement with SDSS-III, this research will support Dr. Weinberg's role as the SDSS-III Project Scientist, working with the science teams of the four surveys to ensure that they produce high-quality data sets. Dr. Weinberg will also continue his multi-year collaboration with Macarthur Award winning artist Josiah McElheny to use cosmologically inspired sculptures as a basis for public outreach aimed at science- and art-oriented audiences.