Hot Fuzz: The evolution of satellite galaxies via mergers and stripping

在这个项目中，我将揭示卫星星系在宇宙时间内的命运--这是天文学中的一个主要问题。我将确定它们的质量是否因直接合并而损失，或者它们的恒星物质是否散布在它们所在的暗物质光晕周围。为了解决这个项目，我们将使用两个主要线索：通过使用来自澳大利亚两个主要3D星系调查的数据来观察卫星星系的占据情况是如何随着时间的推移而演变的，以及使用来自有史以来最大的哈勃太空望远镜(HST)档案项目的分析来直接探测这些光晕中恒星物质的微弱模糊。这两个线程都涉及高级计算，并将培训下一代研究人员在许多领域适用的技能。

In this project I will be uncovering the fate of satellite galaxies over cosmic time - a major question in astronomy. I will determine whether their mass is lost to direct mergers, or if their stellar material is spread about the dark matter halo they reside in. To tackle this project we will be using two main threads: observing how the occupation of satellite galaxies evolves over time by using data from two major Australian 3D galaxy surveys, and using analysis from the largest ever Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival project to directly detect the faint fuzz of stellar material in these halos. Both these threads involve advanced computation, and will train the next generation of researchers in skills applicable in many domains.