Astrophysics III : galaxy formation and evolution

PHYS-465

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Summary: Galaxy formation & evolution is about studying how galaxies in our Universe come into existence, how they evolve and what shapes their properties. This course describes the observational facts of galaxies and the various processes of galaxy evolution as seen from theoretical/numerical models.

Content:

  • Chapter 1 (Repetition of Astro-I):  Introduction (galaxy definition, astronomical scales, observable quantities) 
  • Chapter 2: Brief review on stars
  • Chapter 3: Radiation processes in galaxies and telescopes; 
  • Chapter 4: The Milky Way
  • Chapter 5: The world of galaxies I
  • Chapter 6: The world of galaxies II
  • Chapter 7: Black holes and active galactic nuclei
  • Chapter 8: Galaxies and their environment; 
  • Chapter 9: High-redshift galaxies
  • Chapter 10:  
    • Cosmology in a nutshell
    • Linear structure formation in the early Universe
  • Chapter 11:  
    • Dark matter and the large-scale structure 
    • Cosmological N-body simulations of dark matter
  • Chapter 12: Populating dark matter halos with baryons:  
    • Semi-empirical models 
    • Semi-analytical models 
  • Chapter 13: Modelling the evolution of gas in galaxies: Hydrodynamics
  • Chapter 14:  
    • Gas cooling/heating 
    • Star formation
  • Chapter 15: Stellar feedback processes
  • Chapter 16: Black hole growth and AGN feedback
  • Chapter 17: Success and challenges of modern simulations and future prospects
  • Mock exam

Learning Prerequisites/Recommended courses: 

  • Bachelor in physics or mathematics
  • Astrophysics I (but there will be some revision)
  • Basics in Python programming

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Theorize fundamental principles of galaxy formation and evolution
  • Interpret observational results of galaxies
  • Analyze observational data and theoretical/numerical simulations

Teaching methods:

Ex cathedra and exercices supervised in classroom.

Assessment methods: oral exam (100%).

Bibliography:

  • Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology (P. Schneider)
  • Galaxy formation and evolution (Mo, van den Bosch & White)
  • Galaxy formation (Longair)

Ressources en bibliothèque:


Lecture 1

  • Introduction (galaxy definition, astronomical scales, observable quantities) 
  • Brief review on stars
Chapters in P. Schneider (Extragalactic Astronomy): Appendix A and B

A note to the exercises: Please read through the book chapter. You can d exercise 1, but you will need help to do exercise 2, I will instruct the TA accordingly.

Lecture 2

Finish Chapter 2 (see previous lecture)

Chapter 3:

  • Radiation processes in galaxies
  • Telescopes

In P. Schneider, Extragalactic Astronomy (2nd edition): chapter 1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3 and 3.5 (note that radiation processes are not really covered by this book, but I think the lecture material should be detailed enough).


Lecture 3

Chapter 4: the Milky Way

Chapter 5: The world of galaxies I:

  • Galaxy surveys, 
  • Classification of galaxies

Reading: P. Schneider: 2.3, 2.6, 3.1


Lecture 4+5

Lecture 4: Chapter 5 -- The world of galaxies I: Properties of Elliptical and Spiral galaxies (slides from previous week), Sections in P. Schneider: 3.1-3.4
Lecture 5:
  • Chapter 6: The world of galaxies II 
  • Chapter 7: Black holes and AGN

Sections in P. Schneider/Extragalactic Astronomy: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3.1, 5.4

Lecture 6

  • Chapter 7: Black holes and AGN (see slides from week ago)
  • Chapter 8: Galaxies and their environment
Section in P. Schneider/Extragalactic Astronomy: 

6.4.1, 6.5 (.1 and .3), 6.7 & 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.6

Holiday!

Lecture 7

Chapter 9: Galaxies in the high-redshift Universe
Chapter 10:

  • Basics of Cosmology
  • Structure formation in the linear regime
  • Power spectrum and transfer functions
  • Generation of initial conditions for cosmological simulations

Sections in P. Schneider/Extragalactic Astronomy:

4.2, 4.3.2, 7.2, 7.4.1, 7.4.2, 7.5.1

Lecture 8

Chapter 11:
  • Cosmological dark matter simulations
  • Analysis and results of dark matter simulations
  • Properties of dark matter halos

Chapters in P. Schneider/Extragalactic Astronomy:

7.5.3, 7.6, 7.8

For deepening your knowledge: Chapter in Mo, van den Bosch and White/Galaxy formation and Evolution:

7.3.1, 7.3.2, 7.3.3, 7.3.4; 7.5.1 - 7.5.3, C1.1 (very theoretical, but reading the text can be helpful)



Lecture 9

Chapter 12:

  • Populating dark matter halos with galaxies
  • Semi-empirical models
  • Semi-analytical models

Book chapters in P. Schneider: Extragalactic astronomy:

10.1, 10.2, 10.4.4, 10.4.5, 10.4.6, 10.7


Lecture 10

Chapter 13:
  • Hydrodynamic simulations (grid codes, SPH codes, moving mesh codes)


P. Schneider/Extragalactic Astronomy: Sections 10.2, 10.6

Mo, van den Bosch, White/Galaxy formation and evolution: Sections C1.2 , (B -- on cooling processes, very detailed), 8.4.1, 8.4.2


Lecture 11

Chapter 14:
  • Gas cooling
  • Star formation


Chapters in P. Schneider/Extragalactic astrophysics: 10.3.1, 10.4.4, 10.6.1, 10.6.2

Chapters in Mo, van den Bosch, White/Galaxy formation and evolution: sections 9.1-9.6



Lecture 12

  • Chapter 15: Stellar feedback 

Literature:

P. Schneider/Extragalactic astronomy: sections 10.4.4, 10.4.5, 10.4.6, 10.5.1
Naab & Ostriker+16: excellent review article on current state of the art in cosmological hydro sims and small-scale hydro simulations
Mo, van den Bosch & White/Galaxy formation and evolution: sections 10.5, 14.2.1, 14.4

Lecture 13

  • Chapter 16: Black holes and AGN in cosmological simulations
  • Literature: Somerville & Dave+15: excellent review article on current state of the art in cosmological hydro sims and SAMs

Lecture 14

  • Chapter 17: Success, Challenges and future prospects of cosmological simulations
  • Mock exam
  • Your questions!
  • Possible projects at GalSpec --> please contact me if interested !