Galaxies and the Intergalactic Medium at z=1.5-3.5

这个项目包括几个相关的观测项目，研究星系和星际扩散介质的性质、大尺度分布和演化，以及两者之间的关系，红移范围从1.5到3.5，新的观测技术和设施首次提供了进入这个几乎未被探索的时代的机会。其目的是尽可能完整地绘制出重子宇宙在星系和黑洞生长的最重要时期的图像。利用互补星系测量和高质量类星体吸收线谱将揭示恒星形成星系和星际气体之间的相互作用，并使研究吸收系统、活动星系核活动和星系形成和演化的环境相关性成为可能。决定漫射星系间介质性质的电离光子的所有来源都将被探测和量化。深度光学和近红外光谱学将在星系群体中确定物理条件和趋势。利用多个类星体视线，一些观测到的区域将被同一宇宙体积中的星系间介质的独特信息所补充。在其他领域，公开的多波长和天基数据将与新的观测相结合，研究星系和活动星系核之间的联系。该项目获得的早期星系和星际介质的基本统计信息将对天文学许多子领域的研究人员有用，所有结果和数据都将向社会提供。对于大多数人来说，对宇宙历史的兴趣是自然而然的，这会引发科学家之间的讨论，甚至是最害怕科学的门外汉。国际和平协会最近的麦克阿瑟奖学金提供了一个不同寻常的机会，通过由此增加的能见度接触到更多的受众，应该有很多机会向非科学家传达科学和科学事业的兴奋。

AST-0307263SteidelThis project comprises several related observational programs to study the nature, large-scale distribution, and evolution of galaxies and of the diffuse intergalactic medium, and the relationship between the two, over the redshift range from 1.5 to 3.5, where new observational techniques and facilities are providing the first wholesale access to this almost unexplored era. The intent is to compile as complete as possible a picture of the baryonic universe during the most important era for galaxy and black hole growth. Using complementary galaxy surveys and high quality quasar absorption line spectroscopy will reveal the interactions between star-forming galaxies and intergalactic gas, and enable a study of the environment dependence of absorption systems, AGN activity, and galaxy formation and evolution. All sources of the ionizing photons that dictate the properties of the diffuse intergalactic medium will be detected and quantified. Deep optical and near-infrared spectroscopy will establish physical conditions and trends amongst the galaxy population. Some of the observed fields will be supplemented by unique information on the intergalactic medium in the same cosmic volumes, using multiple quasar lines of sight. In other fields, publicly available multi-wavelength and space-based data will be combined with the new observations to study the connection between galaxies and active galactic nuclei.The fundamental statistical information on early galaxies and the intergalactic medium obtained by this project will be useful to researchers in many sub-fields of astronomy, and all of the results and data will be made available to the community. An interest in the history of the Universe comes naturally to most people and can spark discussion between scientists and even the most science-phobic lay person. The PI's recent MacArthur fellowship provides an unusual opportunity to reach a larger audience through the resultant increased visibility, and there should be many chances to communicate the excitement of science and the scientific enterprise to nonscientists.