Extragalactic Astronomy at Durham 2011-2016

达勒姆大学拥有河外天文学领域世界上最大、最活跃的研究小组之一。我们一直处于星系形成和演化领域许多最重要进展的最前沿，这反映在我们的引用记录和我们对世界上最重要的地面和空间天文台（STFC支持和其他一流的国际设施）的主要研究的领导地位。我们的团队还受益于我们的研究计划与ICC和达勒姆CfAI仪器集团内部工作之间的紧密联系和根深蒂固的协同作用。我们的方案解决了STFC路线图中强调的三个核心问题："星系、恒星和行星是如何形成和演变的？“在极端条件下的物理定律是什么？”“宇宙是由什么组成的，它是如何进化的？”''.在本提案中，我们提出支持我们处理所有这三个问题的关键要素的连贯和全面方案的理由。这个为期5年的计划建立在我们的研究优势，并利用通过当前和未来的STFC资助的设施提供的新机会。特别是，我们将利用我们在中等和高红移星系群的多波长研究，Ly-alpha森林研究，X射线调查和AGN研究以及全景类星体和星系调查方面的领导地位，以回答这些路线图问题的核心问题。我们的提案是围绕七个广泛的主题，其中每个主题包括一组目标和相关项目，旨在回答不同研究领域的问题，在滚动赠款计划的更广泛范围内。这七个主题是：主题A，z<0.5时的环境和星系演化;主题B，高红移星系的物理学;主题C，星系间介质和星系;主题D，遮蔽星系中的尘埃和气体;主题E，活动星系核的人口统计和性质;主题F，活动星系核反馈的约束机制;主题G，巡天宇宙学。主题A的目的是了解在高密度环境中星系转变的物理过程，它们对星系形态和星星形成历史的影响。主题B探讨高红移星系的形成，以了解高红移星系中星星的形成过程、金属含量的演化及星系结构的形成。主题C的重点是研究低z和高z下气体与星系之间的关系，以及星系与其气体环境之间的物质循环。主题D研究最极端的，在高z遮蔽的星暴星系，以确定它们对星星形成密度的贡献，并测试它们在其他星系群演化中的作用。主题E使用多波长巡天来研究超大质量黑洞的生长，驱动这一过程的过程以及限制我们对这一群体的知识的遮蔽效应。主题F着重于活动星系核的反馈对它们的星系宿主和周围环境的影响。主题G试图通过对星系、类星体和星系团的全景光度和分光观测来限制宇宙学参数。

Durham University hosts one of the world's largest and most active research groups in the field of extragalactic astronomy. We have been at the forefront of many of the most important advances in the fields of galaxy formation and evolution and this is reflected in both our citation record and our leadership of major studies on the world's foremost ground and space observatories (both STFC-supported and other premier international facilities). Our group also benefits from the strong links and deep-rooted synergies between our research programme and the work within the ICC and the CfAI instrumentation groups at Durham. Our programme addresses three of the central questions highlighted in the STFC Roadmap: ``How do galaxies, stars and planets form and evolve?'', ``What are the laws of physics in extreme conditions?'' and ``What is the Universe made of and how does it evolve?''. In this proposal we present the case for support for our coherent and comprehensive programme to address critical elements in all three of these questions. This 5-year programme builds on our research strengths and exploits the new opportunities available through current and future STFC-funded facilities. In particular we will exploit our leadership in multiwavelength studies of galaxy populations at both moderate and high redshift, studies of the Ly-alpha forest, X-ray surveys and studies of AGN and panoramic QSO and galaxy surveys, to answer open questions which lie at the core of these Roadmap questions. Our proposal is constructed around the seven broad themes, each of which comprises a group of goals and associated projects aimed at answering questions in distinct research areas, within the broader scope of the rolling grant programme. The seven themes are: Theme A, Environment and galaxy evolution at z<0.5; Theme B, The physics of high-redshift galaxies; Theme C, The inter-galactic medium and galaxies; Theme D, Dust and gas in obscured galaxies; Theme E, Demographics and properties of AGN; Theme F, Constraining the mechanics of AGN feedback; Theme G, Survey cosmology. Theme A aims to understand the physical processes responsible for the transformation of galaxies in high-density environments, their effect on the morphologies and star formation histories of the galaxies. Theme B investigates galaxy formation at higher redshift, to understand the star formation process in high-z galaxies, the evolution of their metal content and the formation of their galactic structures. Theme C focuses on studies of the relationship between gas and galaxies at low and high z and the cycle of material between galaxies and their gaseous environments. Theme D studies the most extreme, obscured starburst galaxies at high z , to determine their contribution to the star formation density and to test their role in the evolution of other galactic populations. Theme E uses multi-wavelength surveys to investigate the growth of supermassive black holes, the processes which drive this and the effects of obscuration which limit our knowledge of this population. Theme F focuses on the influence of feedback from AGN on their galactic hosts and surroundings. Theme G seeks to constrain cosmological parameters using panoramic photometric and spectroscopic surveys of galaxies, QSOs and clusters.