The Physical Properties of Galaxies 7 Billion Years Ago

了解星系形成的一个关键挑战是在宇宙时间内表征星系的结构和恒星成分。然而，目前测量遥远星系性质的技术主要是基于光度学，受到重要的系统不确定性的影响。为了弥补这一点，我们正在进行LEGA-C调查：在ESO的超大望远镜上进行128晚的观测，该提案的作者将在未来5年内获得约3000个遥远星系的高质量光谱。这些光谱将揭示星系的运动结构、恒星年龄和组成。这项巨大的望远镜时间投资将直接告诉我们7年前的星系，并将对未来十年的新任务和设施的准备至关重要。通过这个提案，我请求资助一名博士后研究员。该研究人员的关键作用将是执行和监督数据简化管道和星系光谱的运动学分析。这项工作将使基于LEGA-C数据的大量项目和出版物成为可能。特别是，研究人员有望在重要的回顾时间推导出星系的第一个动态质量函数。

A key challenge in understanding galaxy formation is to characterize the structure and stellar content of galaxies across cosmic time. However, current techniques to measure the properties of distant galaxies are mostly based on photometry, subject to important systematic uncertainties. In order to remedy this we are conducting the LEGA-C survey: 128 nights on ESO's Very Large Telescope has been awarded to the writer of this proposal to obtain high-quality spectra of ~3000 distant galaxies over the next 5 years. These spectra will reveal the kinematic structure and stellar age and composition of galaxies at large look-back time. This enormous telescope time investment will directly teach us about galaxies ~7 Gyrs ago and will be crucial for the preparation of new missions and facilities in the next decade.Through this proposal I ask for funding for a postdoctoral researcher. The crucial role played by this researcher will be the execution and oversight of the data reduction pipeline and the kinematic analysis of the galaxy spectra. This work will enable a large number of projects and publications based on LEGA-C data. In particular, the researcher is expected to derive the first dynamical mass function of galaxies at significant look-back times.