CAREER: Explaining the Connection between Lyman Alpha Emitters and Typical Present-day Galaxies

职业：解释莱曼阿尔法发射体与当今典型星系之间的联系

• 批准号: 1055919
• 负责人: Eric Gawiser
• 金额: $ 84.34万
• 依托单位: Rutgers University New Brunswick
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1055919&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Explaining; Connection; between; Lyman

The PI proposes to 1) use computer simulations and galaxy formation models to identify the properties of early progenitors of our Milky Way galaxy, 2) perform spectroscopy to measure the physical properties of early galaxies called Lyman Alpha Emitters and to compare them with those expected for Milky Way progenitors, and 3) identify the progenitors of various types of present-day galaxies by analyzing the spatial clustering of 800,000 Lyman Alpha Emitters discovered by the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). Integrating this research with education presents an opportunity to explain galaxy formation to undergraduate students. These students are motivated to learn about current research but require hands-on interaction to visualize challenging concepts such as dark matter "halos" and galaxy "merger trees". To this end, the PI will develop a new version of Rutgers University's introductory astronomy course, replacing half of the lectures with interactive computer visualization laboratories to improve students' conceptual understanding. The PI will teach this class each year, using standard assessment methods to measure effectiveness.This integrated program of research and education will have several broader impacts. It promises to improve understanding of galaxy formation by connecting the observable universe of galaxies to the invisible halos of dark matter that host them. Several undergraduates, two Ph.D. thesis students, a postdoctoral researcher, and an educational researcher supervised by the PI will be trained for their own careers in research and education. Results of the educational experiment will be published to allow successful techniques to be implemented at other institutions. The PI will disseminate computer visualization laboratories and education research results online and at AAS and AAPT meetings. The PI's research will reduce systematic uncertainties to assist HETDEX and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in determining the nature of the mysterious dark energy that fills the cosmos.

PI计划1)使用计算机模拟和星系形成模型来识别我们银河系早期祖星系的特性，2)使用光谱学来测量被称为莱曼α发射体的早期星系的物理特性，并将它们与银河系祖星系的预期物理特性进行比较。3)通过分析霍比-埃伯利望远镜暗能量实验（HETDEX）发现的80万个莱曼α发射体的空间集群，确定当今各种类型星系的祖先。将这项研究与教育相结合，为向本科生解释星系的形成提供了机会。这些学生有动力学习当前的研究，但需要动手互动，以可视化具有挑战性的概念，如暗物质“晕”和星系“合并树”。为此，PI将开发罗格斯大学天文学入门课程的新版本，用交互式计算机可视化实验室取代一半的讲座，以提高学生的概念理解。PI每年都会教授这门课，使用标准的评估方法来衡量效果。这项研究和教育的综合计划将产生几个更广泛的影响。它有望通过将可观测的星系宇宙与承载它们的暗物质的不可见光晕联系起来，提高对星系形成的理解。将培养若干本科生、2名博士论文学生、1名博士后研究员和1名教育研究员，培养他们从事研究和教育工作。教育实验的结果将会公布，以使成功的技术可以在其他院校实施。PI将在网上以及在AAS和AAPT会议上传播计算机可视化实验室和教育研究成果。PI的研究将减少系统的不确定性，以帮助HETDEX和大型综合巡天望远镜确定充满宇宙的神秘暗能量的性质。