Formation and Evolution of Galaxies
S. C. Trager
Fourth Quarter Spring 2007
Prerequisites: "Sterrenstelsels" (galaxies), "Stellar Structure and
Evolution", "Dynamics of Galaxies and Stellar Systems" and
"Cosmology". "Large Scale Structure of the Universe" is
optional, but very helpful. If you're uncertain about what is
required, please follow this link
for required background
reading.
Objectives: This course is meant to introduce the current "big picture"
of galaxy formation and evolution and to expose students to the "big
questions" still remaining (and there are many!) by reading and
discussing original articles and reviews (when available). Each
class member will lead one class after reading appropriate (assigned)
materials, in consultation with lecturer.
Text: No required textbook; reading
assignments to be given before each
topic, consisting of original research articles.
Requirements: Leading class discussion (45%), written exam (45%), and
participating in class discussions (10%).
Date
|
Activity
|
Class leader
|
3 May
|
Introduction: the "big picture" and
the "big questions" (printer-friendly
version); discussion of syllabus, objectives,
requirements, and organization
|
(Trager)
|
4 May
|
Observational overview:
properties and populations of local and high-redshift galaxies (printer-friendly
version) |
(Trager) |
7 May
|
Review of galaxies: the Milky Way
and stellar populations (printer-friendly
version)
|
(Trager) |
10 May
|
Review of galaxies: structure,
scaling laws, and luminosity functions of galaxies (printer-friendly
version)
|
(Trager) |
11 May
|
Scaling
laws continued (Tully-Fisher); timetable
for structure formation; review
of basic cosmology |
(Trager) |
14 May
|
No class: NAC
|
|
21 May
|
Gravitational
instability
picture: the evolution of mass in the Universe (part 1 --- UPDATED 18 May; part 2)
|
(Trager) |
24 May
|
G.I.P. part 2, continued
Dark matter profiles
|
(Trager)
Facundo
|
25 May
|
Dark
matter substructure
First stars
|
(Trager)
Matthijs
|
31 May
|
Supermassive black holes
Feedback
|
Sandra
Marlies
|
1 June
|
Star
formation history of the
Universe
Semi-analytic galaxy formation models
|
Ayçin
Anneke
|
4 June
|
The Local Group: MW, M32+/-1
The Local Group: dwarfs
|
Matías
(Trager)
|
7 June
|
Reionization
|
Saleem Zaroubi
|
8 June
|
Scaling relations: evolution and
origins
|
Marc Verheijen
|
11 June
|
Gravitational
lensing: structure
and formation of elliptical galaxies
|
Leon Koopmans
|
14 June
|
Evolution of Morphologies
Mergers: Mechanisms and Evolution
|
Johan
Simona
|
15 June
|
Massive galaxies: local Universe
--- colors, luminosity functions, environment
Disk galaxies: formation
|
Jarno
Antonela
|
18 June
|
Early-type galaxies: stellar
populations, scaling relations
Massive galaxies: z~1
|
Maarten
Tessel
|
22 June
|
Massive(?) galaxies: z>1.5 (different format)
Review of major topics (see some notes
on Faber et al. 2005)
|
Hans (Trager)
|
28 June (12.00)
|
Exam
handed out
|
|
5 July (17.00)
|
Exam
due
|
|