Infrared Diagnostics of Galaxy Formation and Evolution

由于宇宙中星系的多样性和它们演化的宇宙时间尺度，星系形成和演化的性质仍然具有挑战性。虽然已经发现了广泛的趋势，但需要对大样本星系进行详细的研究，以便对形成历史和演化过程进行强有力的推断。近年来，通过对数千个星系进行大规模光学成像光谱调查，在邻近宇宙中取得了重大进展。我们开始获得足够的统计数据来量化广泛的星系参数范围内的聚集特性。尽管取得了这一进展，我们对遥远宇宙中星系的看法仍然有限，这对于完成进化图景至关重要。 我提出了一个高度耦合的红外（IR）仪器和科学计划，利用尖端技术，如自适应光学（AO），积分场光谱学和天体光子学，以解决长期存在的问题，在该领域的星系形成和演化：1）什么是恒星形成的初始条件？2)环境扮演什么角色？3)什么样的内部反馈过程会影响星系的生长？ 通过使用强大的新仪器，如宽视场红外积分场摄谱仪（WIFIS）和即将推出的双子座红外多目标摄谱仪（GIRMOS），我们将对附近和遥远的星系进行详细的调查，直接解决这些问题，并为国际社会提供遗产价值。WIFIS提供了研究静止坐标系红外光谱和约束恒星初始质量函数的机会。此外，通过我们的AO发展，我们将通过对银河系凸起中最古老的贫金属恒星的调查，探索早期宇宙中星星形成的性质。这项工作将测试长期以来关于星星形成和恒星演化的假设，这些假设是理解星系的基础。GIRMOS将为我们打开一扇通往遥远宇宙的补充窗口，使我们能够以与当地类似的规模进行星系调查。这将导致我们对宇宙的理解取得突破，特别是星系如何形成以及我们的银河系如何在其一生中发展。我的建议还包括在AO和光子学领域的仪器开发的研究计划。这项研究有可能在未来的大型和超大型望远镜仪器和商业/国防应用中获得重大回报。 HQP将在所有提议的项目中发挥领导作用。该计划将培训约40名HQP。由于所有HQP都将参与科学和仪器研究，拟议的活动将提供一套多样化的技能。这是一个成功的组合，为HQP谁打算在学术界脱颖而出或加入高技能的工业劳动力。

The nature of galaxy formation and evolution remains challenging to unravel due to the sheer diversity of galaxies in the Universe and the cosmic timescales over which they evolve. While broad trends have been discovered, detailed studies of large samples of galaxies are required to make strong inferences about formation histories and evolutionary processes. In recent times, significant progress has been made in the nearby universe through massive optical imaging spectroscopic surveys of thousands of galaxies. We are beginning to obtain sufficient statistics to quantify the aggregate properties for broad ranges of galaxy parameters. Despite this progress, our view of galaxies in the distant universe continues to be limited, which is essential to complete the evolutionary picture. I propose a highly coupled infrared (IR) instrumentation and scientific program that takes advantage of cutting-edge technologies such as adaptive optics (AO), integral field spectroscopy, and astrophotonics to tackle long standing questions in the field of galaxy formation and evolution: 1) What are the initial conditions from which stars form? 2) What role does environment play? 3) What internal feedback processes impact the growth of galaxies? Through the use of powerful new instruments such as the wide-field IR integral field spectrograph (WIFIS), and the upcoming Gemini IR multi-object spectrograph (GIRMOS), we will carry out detailed surveys of both nearby and distant galaxies that directly address these questions and provide legacy value to the international community. WIFIS offers the opportunity to study the rest-frame IR spectrum and constrain stellar initial mass function. Additionally, through a survey for the most ancient metal-poor stars in our Milky Way bulge, enabled by our AO developments, we will probe the nature of star formation during the early universe. This work will test long held assumptions about star formation and stellar evolution that are the foundational for understanding galaxies. GIRMOS will open a complementary window to the distant universe, allowing us to do galaxy surveys in a similar scale as what is being done locally. This will lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the Universe, particularly how galaxies form and how our Milky Way developed over its lifetime. My proposal also includes a research program in instrumentation development within the domains of AO and photonics. This research has the potential for significant payoffs in the future for large and extremely large telescope instrumentation and commercial/defense applications. HQP will play leadership roles in all of the proposed projects. The program will train ~40 HQP. The proposed activities will provide a diverse set of skills thanks to the combination of scientific and instrumentation research that all HQP will participate in. This is a winning combination for HQP who intend to excel within academia or join the highly skilled industrial workforce.