CAREER: More Accurate Galaxy Merger Rates to Propel Studies of Gravitational Waves and Star Formation in Galaxy Mergers

合并是星系在宇宙时间内演化的主要驱动力之一，因为它们从气体聚集体转变为螺旋形和椭圆形结构。了解它们的状态将提供作为恒星质量函数的最佳经验合并率，从而能够确定SMBH双星动力学演化到引力波制度的机制，以及星系合并在驱动恒星形成中的作用。这些估计将被用来回答两个基本的研究问题：SMBH二进制文件合并需要多长时间？星系合并和长期过程在驱动恒星形成方面的作用是什么？落基山国家公园的两名本科生将在PI的监督下，在落基山国家公园举办天文学公共教育项目，向公众宣传与研究项目相关的科学主题。据估计，在这笔赠款的五年内，该项目将达到1.2万至1.8万名游客。在学年期间，学生们将把他们的时间投入到研究中。最大的星系整体场光谱勘测MANGA将对超过10,000个星系进行合并分类，这些分类将与最新的Gadget-3星系模拟和IllustrisTNG宇宙模拟的合并时间尺度相结合，以对星系合并率作为恒星质量、质量比和红移的函数做出可能的最佳经验估计。这些评估将涉及对星系合并率的作用、导致SMBH的过程以及它们合并的时间表的理解。这一裁决反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Mergers are one of the main drivers in the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time as they morph from aggregates of gas into spiral and elliptical structures. Knowledge of their status will provide the best possible empirical merger rate as function of stellar mass, allowing the determination of the mechanisms for the dynamical evolution of SMBH binaries to the gravitational wave regime, and the role of galaxy mergers in driving star formation. These estimates will be used to answer two fundamental research questions: How long does it take for SMBH binaries to merge? What are the roles of galaxy mergers and secular processes in driving star formation? A public education program in astronomy will be given at Rocky Mountain National Park by two CU undergraduates under the supervision of the PI to educate the public on scientific topics related to the research program. It is estimated that this program will reach 12,000 to 18,000 visitors to the park over the five years of this grant. During the academic year the students will devote their time to research. The largest integral field spectrographic survey of galaxies, MaNGA, will enable merger classifications for over 10,000 galaxies, which will be combined with merger timescales from the latest GADGET-3 galaxy simulations and IllustrisTNG cosmological simulations to make the best possible empirical estimates of the galaxy merger rate as a function of stellar mass, mass ratio, and redshift. These estimates will address understanding of the role of galaxy merger rates and the processes giving rise to SMBHs as well as the timescale for their mergers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.