Advancing Experimental Methods for Studying Galaxy Formation and Evolution

推进研究星系形成和演化的实验方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06184
• 负责人: Sivanandam, Suresh
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710209
• 关键词: Advancing; Experimental; Methods; Studying; Galaxy

The infrared window offers a unique opportunity for studying the nature of galaxies in both the nearby and distant universe. Fundamental questions related to the assembly and evolution of galaxies, the origins of their stars and the processes that halt star formation, and the growth of supermassive blackholes can be studied using innovative infrared instrumentation. I propose a tightly coupled scientific research and instrumentation development program that will address these key scientific questions: 1) Do the most massive galaxies in our Universe form differently from other galaxies? 2) How do galaxy properties evolve as a function of their environment? 3) Is the growth of supermassive black holes in spiral galaxies different from their elliptical counterparts? The proposed five-year program will consist of two major instrumentation and observational programs, and three smaller instrument development projects. First, we have almost completed the construction of an integral field infrared spectrograph, which we will use to carry out a survey of nearby galaxies. In this survey we will study the stellar properties of these galaxies to understand how they formed and evolved over time. Second, we have begun the development of a novel infrared spectrograph for 8-10-meter class telescopes that we will use to study galaxies in distant galaxy clusters. We will discover how galaxies are transformed in these environments. Lastly, the three smaller instrumentation projects will involve developing new sensing technologies for adaptive optics, optical fibre technology to make sensitive infrared measurements, and an infrared observatory in the Canadian High Arctic. These technological innovations can revolutionize observations of faint, distant galaxies in the infrared and benefit the next generation of instrumentation for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

红外窗口为研究附近和遥远宇宙中的星系性质提供了独特的机会。可以使用创新的红外仪器研究与星系的组装和演变，恒星的起源以及停止恒星形成的过程以及超级黑洞的生长有关的基本问题。我提出了一个紧密耦合的科学研究和仪器发展计划，该计划将解决以下关键科学问题： 1）我们宇宙中最大的星系形成与其他星系不同吗？ 2）星系性能如何随着其环境的函数而发展？ 3）螺旋星系中超质量黑洞的生长是否不同于其椭圆形对应物？ 拟议的五年计划将包括两个主要的仪器和观察计划，以及三个较小的仪器开发项目。首先，我们几乎完成了整体现场红外光谱仪的构建，我们将用来对附近的星系进行调查。在这项调查中，我们将研究这些星系的出色特性，以了解它们如何随着时间的流逝而形成和进化。其次，我们已经开始开发8-10米级望远镜的新型红外光谱仪，我们将用来研究遥远星系簇中的星系。我们将发现星系如何在这些环境中进行转换。最后，这三个较小的仪器项目将涉及为自适应光学元件，光纤技术开发新的传感技术，以进行敏感的红外测量以及加拿大高北极的红外天文台。这些技术创新可以彻底改变红外线中微弱，遥远的星系的观察，并使下一代仪器的望远镜（TMT）受益。