Collaborative Research: The Merian Survey. Characterizing Dark Matter and Feedback in Star Forming Dwarf Galaxies

虽然宇宙中的大部分质量是看不见的，但宇宙中最小的星系（所谓的矮星系）对这种“暗物质”模型提出了重大挑战。为了进一步测试我们最好的暗物质模型，需要对矮星系进行大规模的观测调查。这个项目的重点是梅里亚姆巡天，它将观测10万个距离已知的矮星系。此外，本次调查中的每个矮星系的暗物质含量都受到其他方法的限制。新的数据将提供它们的恒星结构和颜色。这些结果可以综合起来检验我们关于宇宙中暗物质的想法。该团队将优先考虑招募不同群体的学生，他们将进行Vera Rubin天文台时代所需的数据挖掘。普林斯顿大学（Princeton）和加州大学圣克鲁斯分校（UC Santa Cruz）的既有项目都招收历史上得不到充分照顾的学生，进行暑期研究，然后继续提供群体支持。这些学生将在梅里安接受“大数据”和现代科学分析方面的培训。对矮星系的广泛研究揭示了它们在许多基本性质上的相当大的分散。特别是恒星质量为108 - 109 Msun的星系，其恒星形成速率和旋转曲线形状的多样性与理论模型相矛盾。可靠地描述这些星系中的暗物质分布和重子过程，如反馈，是在小尺度上建立暗物质完整图景的关键。梅里安巡天将对z=0.058-0.1的质量范围内的矮星系进行体积有限的普查。使用两个定制的滤光片，Merian将在870°2的面积上提供100,000个形成恒星的矮星系（比SDSS+GAMA大两个数量级）的完整样本的红移。结合超级超级相机的深+高空间分辨率成像，该计划将对矮星系进行高信噪比弱透镜剖面测量，探测它们的暗物质晕到它们的病毒半径。此外，超高速相机成像将用于测量矮星的大小和形状。下一代科学家必须接受训练，以处理未来十年维拉鲁宾天文台的海量数据。普林斯顿大学（Princeton）和加州大学圣克鲁斯分校（UC Santa Cruz）的项目都招收历史上得不到充分照顾的学生，进行暑期研究，然后继续提供群体支持。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

While most of the mass in the universe is unseen, the smallest galaxies in the universe (the so-called dwarf galaxies) pose significant challenges to this “dark matter” model. In order to further test our best dark matter models, a large observational survey of dwarf galaxies is needed. This project focuses on the Meriam survey, which will observe 100,000 dwarf galaxies with known distances. Furthermore, each of the dwarf galaxies in this survey has constraints on their dark matter content from other methods. The new data will provide their stellar structure and colors. These results can all be taken together to test our ideas of dark matter in the universe. The team will place priority on recruiting a diverse group of students who will carry out the data mining that will be required in the era of the Vera Rubin Observatory. Established programs at both Princeton and UC Santa Cruz recruit historically underserved students for summer research and then continuing cohort support. These students will be trained in "big-data'' and modern science analysis with Merian. Extensive studies of dwarf galaxies have revealed a considerable scatter in many of their fundamental properties. In particular, galaxies with stellar mass of 108 - 109 Msun present a diversity of star formation rates and rotation-curve shapes which are in tension with theoretical models. Reliably characterizing the dark matter distribution and baryonic processes in these galaxies, such as feedback, is key to in order to establish a complete picture of dark matter on small scales. The Merian survey will obtain a volume-limited census of dwarf galaxies in this mass range at z=0.058-0.1. Using two custom made filters, Merian will provide redshifts to a complete sample of 100,000 star forming dwarf galaxies (two orders of magnitude larger than SDSS+GAMA) over an area of 870 deg2. Combined with deep+high spatial resolution imaging from the Hyper-Suprime Camera, this program will result in high S/N weak lensing profile measurements for dwarf galaxies, probing their dark matter halos out to their virial radii. Also, Hyper-Suprime Camera imaging will be used to measure dwarf sizes and shapes. The next generation of scientists must be trained to deal with the deluge of Vera Rubin Observatory data coming in the next decade. Programs at both Princeton and UC Santa Cruz recruit historically underserved students for summer research and then continuing cohort support.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.