Compaction in Action: Blue, Green, and Red Nuggets at Redshift Zero

这个项目将使用现有的观测数据和新的观测数据来研究致密星系演化的不同阶段。当气体云相互碰撞时，它们被认为会产生致密的蓝色星系(称为“蓝块”)，这些星系正在经历快速的恒星形成。随着蓝块继续吸积气体，它们的恒星形成将减少，留下致密的红色星系(称为“红块”)，最终通过卫星星系的吸积形成椭圆星系。这个项目将研究附近的蓝金块、红金块和过渡中的金块(即所谓的绿色金块)的种群。该项目将能够观察到金块演化的所有阶段，并更好地了解恒星形成和碰撞气体流如何产生这些物体并影响它们的结构。该项目还将向天文学社区提供数据，并提供工具，以便将数据用于教育。该项目将支持为期两周的计算天文学和物理训练营，面向可能没有资源参与整个暑期研究的本科生和研究生。该项目将对z=0 RESOLE(局部体积分辨光谱)调查中的蓝色、红色和绿色金块进行系统研究。这项研究将着眼于了解蓝金是如何以及何时淬火的，碰撞流压实是否仍然发生在红移零点，以及当蓝金从蓝色经过绿色再到红色时，金块在结构上是如何演变的。该项目将使用RESOLE公司的环境指标、多波长光度、光学光谱和21厘米高密度气体观测。这些数据将被来自其他观测的数据补充，以寻找碰撞流、合并、潮汐剥离和磁盘重建的运动学特征。该项目将通过创建一个新的数据科学门户网站来扩展Resolve的可搜索在线数据库的效用，该门户网站提供计算方法教程、示例数据分析项目和建议的教程序列。该项目将举办为期两周的计算天文学和物理学训练营，每年将为五名本科生和研究生提供服务。该奖项反映了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。

This project will use existing survey data along with new observations to study compact galaxies across different stages of their evolution. As gas clouds collide, they are thought to produce compact blue galaxies (called "blue nuggets") that are undergoing rapid star formation. As the blue nuggets continue to accrete gas, their star formation will decrease, leaving behind compact red galaxies (called "red nuggets") that eventually form elliptical galaxies through accretion of satellite galaxies. This project will study the nearby population of blue nuggets, red nuggets, and nuggets in transition (so-called "green nuggets"). The project will be able to look at all phases of nugget evolution and better understand how star formation and colliding streams of gas produce these objects and influence their structure. The project will also make the data available for the astronomical community and provide tools so that the data can be used in education. The project will support a two-week Computational Astronomy & Physics Boot Camp for undergraduates and post-baccalaureates who may not have the resources to participate in research over the entire summer.This project will perform a systematic study of blue, red, and green nuggets in the z=0 RESOLVE (REsolved Spectroscopy Of a Local VolumE) survey. The research will look at understanding how and when blue nuggets quench, whether colliding-stream compaction still occurs at redshift zero, and how nuggets evolve structurally as the pass from blue through green and on to red. The project will use RESOLVE's environment metrics, multi-wavelength photometry, optical spectroscopy, and 21 cm HI gas observations. This data will be supplemented by data from other observations to look for kinematic signatures of colliding streams, mergers, tidal stripping, and disk rebuilding. The project will expand the utility of RESOLVE's searchable online database by creating a new Data Science Portal providing computational methods tutorials, example data analysis projects, and suggested tutorial sequences. The project will conduct a two-week Computational Astronomy & Physics Boot Camp, which will serve five undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students per year.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.