Extragalactic astrophysics and galaxy formation
Learning objectives
Referring to knowledge
The main objective of the course is to provide students with an updated overview of the structure and dynamics of galaxies, their formation in a cosmological context and the physical mechanisms that contribute to the evolution of their spectrophotometric, chemical, dynamic and morphological characteristics. The course covers both the observational properties of galaxies and related objects in different redshifts and the modelling of processes involved in their formation and evolution.
Referring to abilities, skills
— Gain the capacity for critical analysis and synthesis regarding explanations and models associated with the subject area of the course.
— Gain reflection capacity and creativity relating to assignments set in class or proposed by students within the subject area of the course.
— Become familiar with data acquisition and analysis techniques used in astrophysics.
Teaching blocks
1. Preliminary aspects
1.1. Useful units and equations
1.2. Relations between apparent and intrinsic astronomical quantities
2. Introduction to galaxies
2.1. What is a galaxy?
2.2. Types of galaxies
2.3. Modern classification of galaxies
2.4. Bivariate distributions of galactic parameters
2.5. Luminosity function: generalities
2.6. Luminosity function and stellar mass function for red and blue galaxy populations
2.7. Physical origin of the luminosity function
2.8. Formation of stars
3. Active galactic nucleus (AGN)
3.1. Operative definition
3.2. Structure of the basic physiology of supermassive black holes
3.3. AGN taxonomy
3.4. Physics of accretion
3.5. Formation of supermassive black holes
4. Late-type galaxies (LTG)
4.1. Basic structural characteristics
4.2. Atomic and molecular gas content
4.3. Dust content
4.4. Metallicity
4.5. Scaling laws
4.6. Results of ALFALFA mapping
5. Early-type galaxy (ETG)
5.1. Basic structural characteristics
5.2. Light profiles
5.3. Kinematics
5.4. Gas and dust content
5.5. Metallicity
5.6. Scaling laws
6. Galaxy groups and evolution
6.1. Main characteristics of galaxy clusters
6.2. Dynamic models of viralised systems
6.3. Scaling laws in galaxy clusters
6.4. Environmental dependence of galaxy properties
6.5. Evolutionary effects of galaxy aggregation
6.6. Environment-dependent evolutionary mechanisms
6.7. Pre-processing
6.8. Observational examples of galaxy interactions
7. Structure formation in the universe
7.1. Large-scale structure of the universe
7.2. Structure formation and cosmology
8. Cosmological density perturbations: linear evolution
8.1. Basic equations
8.2. Fluids without pressure
8.3. Fluids with pressure: Jeans scale
9. Spherical collapse
9.1. Perturbation energy
9.2. Movement of a spherical layer
9.3. Maximum expansion and collapse
9.4. Spherical collapse limits
10. Relaxation time scales and processes
10.1. Binary interactions
10.2. Dynamic friction
10.3. Violent relaxation
11. Dark matter halos
11.1. Statistics based on the linear field of density perturbations
11.2. Press-Schechter formalism
11.3. Excursion set formalism
11.4. Peak theory
11.5. Internal structure of halos: density, velocity dispersion and anisotropy
12. Formation and evolution of galaxies
12.1. Hierarchical formation of galaxies
12.2. Analytical and semianalytical models
12.3. Modelling of dark matter: grouping of halos and internal structure
12.4. Baryon physics: gas cooling, formation of stars, feedback processes
12.5. Growth of supermassive black holes and emission of AGN
12.6. Population III stars
12.7. Galactic structure: discs and bulges
12.8. Interactions between galaxies and the environment
13. High-z universe
13.1. High-z galaxies: Lyman-break galaxies, Lyman-alpha emitters, ULIRG
13.2. Evolution with z of global properties of galaxies and the intergalactic environment
14. Introduction to galaxy formation simulations and large-scale structure
14.1. Theoretical models of galaxy formation
14.2. N-body simulations
14.3. Hydrodynamic simulation
14.4. Examples of simulations
Teaching methods and general organization
The course consists of lectures with the support of audiovisual material. Some renowned specialists in the field may give some supervised computer practical classes, within the hours of face-to-face teaching. Students are also expected to participate by raising and debating questions on the topics explained in class, under teacher supervision.
Official assessment of learning outcomes
Continuous assessment considers the following aspects:
— Showing the knowledge acquired through a project on the analysis of a galaxy cluster, carried out and presented in small groups, (70%) and the delivering of specific tasks (30%).
— The attitude and level demonstrated by students when they ask and discuss questions in ordinary classes or in the time allocated for this purpose.
Examination-based assessment
Single assessment consists of a multiple-choice examination on the whole content of the course.
Repeat assessment is held in early September and consists of an examination similar to the one held in June.
Reading and study resources
Check availability in Cercabib
Book
H. Mo, S.D.M. White & F. van den Bosch. Galaxy formation and evolution. Cambridge University Press, 2010 Enllaç
Longair, M. S. Galaxy formation. 2nd ed. Berlin : Springer, cop. 2008
Enllaç
Binney, James ; Tremaine, Scott. Galactic dynamics. 2nd ed. Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2008 Enllaç
Sparke, Linda S. ; Gallagher, John S. Galaxies in the universe : an introduction. 2nd ed. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2007 Enllaç
1a ed. Enllaç
Spinrad, Hyron. Galaxy formation and evolution. Berlin [etc.] : Springer ; Chichester : Praxis, cop. 2005 Enllaç
Coles, Peter ; Lucchin, Francesco. Cosmology : the origin and evolution of cosmic structure. 2nd ed. Chichester : John Wiley, cop. 2002 Enllaç
Article
R.S. Somerville & R. Davé Physical models of galaxy formation in a cosmological framework. Dins Annu. Re. Astron. Astrophys. 53:51-113 (2015)
Kruit, Pieter C. van der ; Freeman, Ken C. Galaxy disks. Dins: Annu. Re. Astron. Astrophys. 49 :301-371 (2011) Enllaç
Benson, A. J. Galaxy formation theory. Dins: Physics Reports. 495 : 33-86 (2010) Enllaç
Baugh, C. M. A primer on hierarchical galaxy formation.: the semi-analytical approach. Dins: Reports on progress in physics. 69 : 3101-3156 (2006) Enllaç
Web page
Whittle ASTR 5630 & 5640 Graduate extragalactic astronomy Enllaç
Electronic text
Kruit, Pieter C. van der. Structure and dynamics of galaxies. 2011 Enllaç
Philipps, Steve. Galaxies. 2009 Enllaç
Avila-Reese, V. Understanding galaxy formation and evolution. 2006
More information at: http://grad.ub.edu/grad3/plae/AccesInformePDInfes?curs=2023&assig=568432&ens=M0D0B&recurs=pladocent&n2=1&idioma=ENG
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Extragalactic astrophysics and galaxy formation
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The statements made herein do not necessarily have the consent or agreement of the ASTRAIOS Consortium. These represent the opinion and findings of the author(s).
