Quasar Absorption Lines: Probing Galactic Gas at Redshifts One to Two

这个项目将探索宇宙历史中间时期的星系演化，这是一个重要的时期，恒星形成接近其峰值水平，电离辐射场正在发生重大演化。这个时代的探测器是类星体吸收线，它提供了关于星系内外多相气体的运动学、化学成分和电离条件的详细信息。大部分数据和所有工具都已经到手，因此分析将立即开始。这项研究的主题包括星系日冕的演化、高速云群、星系的星际介质以及由超风产生的吸收。要研究的系统中有一半以上是小型单云、弱吸收体，这是一个相当神秘但数量众多的群体。这项研究将继续让学生参与，包括作为最终出版物的作者（这是该团队的重要优势）。该项目还支持宾夕法尼亚州立大学继续开展雄心勃勃的天文学推广活动。每年有超过10,000名K-12学生，成年人和教育工作者参加这些活动，这些活动在Astrofest达到高潮，Astrofest是一个为期四晚的夏季天文学节日，由本科生构思，由50多名教师和学生志愿者维持。

AST-0407138CharltonThis project will explore the evolution of galaxies during the intermediate epoch of the history of the universe, an important time when star formation is near its peak level and significant evolution in the ionizing radiation field is happening. The probe of this era is quasar absorption lines, which provide detailed information about kinematics, chemical content, and ionization conditions of the multiple phases of gas in and around galaxies. Much of the data and all of the tools are already in hand, so that analysis will begin immediately. Themes of this study include the evolution of galaxy coronae, of the high velocity cloud population, of the interstellar medium of galaxies, and of absorption produced by superwinds. Over half of the systems to be studied are small single-cloud, weak absorbers, a rather mysterious but abundant population.The research will continue to involve students, including as authors on resultant publications (a significant prior strength of this team). This project also supports continued ambitious astronomy outreach at Pennsylvania State University. Reaching over 10,000 K-12 students, adults and educators each year, these activities culminate in the Astrofest, a four-night summer festival of astronomy conceived by undergraduates and sustained by more than 50 faculty and student volunteers.