In this course we will study the evolution of galaxies. Fundamental astronomical processes such as star formation, recycling and enrichment of gas, formation of planets, etc. all take place in galaxies. Besides that, galaxies are the basic building blocks of the universe, and we use them to trace the evolution of the universe. This broad scope is why galaxy research is in the forefront of astronomy.
This course covers the structure of the galaxies, including dark matter, stars and gas as well as the large scale structure in which galaxies are embedded. It discusses ongoing surveys of the nearby and distant universe. A special focus will be on the evolution of galaxies. The course builds on the bachelor course Galaxies and Cosmology and assumes that the material in this course is known to the student. A very brief recapitulation will be given of the most important material.
Course work consists of exercises, a presentation, and an oral exam. The presentation is on a paper or current research project; the oral exam focuses on the discussion of a research paper.
Topics covered:
Techniques how the mass distributions of galaxies are measured
Modeling the equilibrium of a gravitational system with a very large number of point sources
Structure of nearby and distant galaxies
Observational programs to study these galaxies
Observations that have been used to understand the evolution of galaxies
The role of dark matter in galaxy evolution and formation
Advanced models for stellar populations and their application to the study of galaxy evolution
Outcome:
At the end of this course, you:
Will be able to analyze recent research papers in the general area of galaxy structure and evolution, and summarize their content and list their implications
Can describe the structure and evolution of galaxies and can list the observables of galaxies underlying this knowledge
Can explain the main mechanisms responsible for galaxy formation
