Advancing Experimental Methods for Studying Galaxy Formation and Evolution

推进研究星系形成和演化的实验方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06184
• 负责人: Sivanandam, Suresh
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710209
• 关键词: Advancing; Experimental; Methods; Studying; Galaxy

The infrared window offers a unique opportunity for studying the nature of galaxies in both the nearby and distant universe. Fundamental questions related to the assembly and evolution of galaxies, the origins of their stars and the processes that halt star formation, and the growth of supermassive blackholes can be studied using innovative infrared instrumentation. I propose a tightly coupled scientific research and instrumentation development program that will address these key scientific questions: 1) Do the most massive galaxies in our Universe form differently from other galaxies? 2) How do galaxy properties evolve as a function of their environment? 3) Is the growth of supermassive black holes in spiral galaxies different from their elliptical counterparts? The proposed five-year program will consist of two major instrumentation and observational programs, and three smaller instrument development projects. First, we have almost completed the construction of an integral field infrared spectrograph, which we will use to carry out a survey of nearby galaxies. In this survey we will study the stellar properties of these galaxies to understand how they formed and evolved over time. Second, we have begun the development of a novel infrared spectrograph for 8-10-meter class telescopes that we will use to study galaxies in distant galaxy clusters. We will discover how galaxies are transformed in these environments. Lastly, the three smaller instrumentation projects will involve developing new sensing technologies for adaptive optics, optical fibre technology to make sensitive infrared measurements, and an infrared observatory in the Canadian High Arctic. These technological innovations can revolutionize observations of faint, distant galaxies in the infrared and benefit the next generation of instrumentation for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

红外窗口为研究附近和遥远宇宙中星系的性质提供了一个独特的机会。利用创新的红外仪器可以研究与星系的聚集和演化、恒星的起源和阻止星星形成的过程以及超大质量黑洞的生长有关的基本问题。我提出了一个紧密耦合的科学研究和仪器开发计划，将解决这些关键的科学问题： 1)我们宇宙中最大的星系与其他星系的形成方式不同吗？ 2)星系的性质是如何随着环境的变化而演变的？ 3)螺旋星系中超大质量黑洞的生长与椭圆星系中的不同吗？ 拟议的五年计划将包括两个主要的仪器和观测计划，以及三个较小的仪器开发项目。首先，我们几乎已经完成了一个积分场红外光谱仪的建设，我们将使用它来进行附近星系的调查。在这次调查中，我们将研究这些星系的恒星属性，以了解它们如何随着时间的推移形成和演变。第二，我们已经开始为8-10米级望远镜开发一种新型红外光谱仪，我们将用它来研究遥远星系团中的星系。我们将发现星系是如何在这些环境中转变的。最后，三个较小的仪器项目将涉及开发新的自适应光学传感技术、进行敏感红外测量的光纤技术以及在加拿大高北极地区建立一个红外观测站。这些技术创新可以彻底改变对红外线中微弱遥远星系的观测，并有利于下一代三十米望远镜（TMT）的仪器。