Bridging the Gap between Theory and Next-generation Observations of the First Galaxies and Quasars

这项研究将为计算开发改进的模拟工具，这将帮助我们了解第一批星系和类星体的形成。一些即将到来的天文台将提供数据来解决宇宙历史上的一个关键时代：再电离时代（EOR），当第一个星系和类星体照亮黑暗时代并再电离中性氢气时。这项工作更广泛的影响包括培养本科生和研究生。李博士将在为期一周的宾夕法尼亚州立大学在职天文学研讨会上创建一个新项目，“高中教师天文学和计算研究经验”（REACH）。REACH将为高中教育工作者提供天文学和计算机科学方面的跨学科教育和培训。李将通过将多尺度宇宙流体动力学模拟与多波长辐射传输计算相结合，采取综合方法将理论与EOR观测联系起来。这个项目有三个主要目标：首先，她将在银河系和宇宙尺度上进行模拟，以跟踪早期星系和类星体的形成和演化。其次，她将进行后处理辐射转移计算，以得出星系的多波长特性并绘制再电离历史。第三，她将用观察结果来对抗模型，以了解物理过程，并为未来的调查做出预测。

This research will develop improved simulation tools for computations that will help us understand the formation of the first galaxies and quasars. A number of upcoming observatories will provide data addressing a crucial epoch in cosmic history: the Epoch of Reionization (EOR), when the first galaxies and quasars lit up the dark ages and reionized the neutral hydrogen gas. Broader impacts of the work include training of undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Li will create a new program, Research Experience in Astronomy and Computation for High-school teachers (REACH), for a week-long Penn State In-Service Workshop in Astronomy. REACH will provide high-school educators interdisciplinary education and training in astronomy and computer scienceDr. Li will undertake a comprehensive approach to bridging theory and observations of the EOR by combining multi-scale cosmological hydrodynamic simulations with multi-wavelength radiative transfer calculations. Three main goals are pursued in this project: First, she will perform simulations on both galactic and cosmological scales to follow the formation and evolution of early galaxies and quasars. Second, she will perform post-processing radiative transfer calculations to derive multi-wavelength properties of galaxies and map the reionization history. Third, she will confront models with observations to understand the physical processes, and make predictions for future surveys.