Formation and Evolution of Galaxies
S. C. Trager
Third Quarter Spring 2005
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. It has come to my attention that many (all?) of
you have not taken the "Sterrenstelsels" course: 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
class discussion (10%). Occasional problem sets optional but
highly recommended.
Date
|
Activity
|
Class leader
|
15 February
|
Introduction: the "big picture" and
the "big questions"; discussion of syllabus, objectives,
requirements, and organization
|
(Trager)
|
17 February
|
Observational overview:
properties and populations of local and high-redshift galaxies |
(Trager) |
| 18 February |
Review of galaxies: the Milky Way
and stellar populations
|
(Trager) |
| 22 February |
Review of galaxies: structure,
scaling laws, and luminosity functions of galaxies
|
(Trager) |
24 February
|
Timetable
for structure formation; review
of basic cosmology |
(Trager) |
| 25 February |
Gravitational
instability
picture: the evolution of mass in the Universe
|
(Trager) |
1 March
|
Dark matter in galaxies: galaxy
mass profiles
Dark matter in
galaxies: substructure |
Alicia
Yang-Shyang
|
3 March
|
The
first stars: models and observable impact
Supermassive black holes: formation and
evolution (and feedback)
SMBH growth
|
Else
Celine
(Trager)
|
| 4 March |
Werkcollege (WC)
|
|
8 March
|
guest lecturer:
Saleem Zaroubi |
10 March
|
Feedback: the flow of gas, energy, and
momentum in and out of galaxies
Semi-analytic galaxy formation models
|
Matthijs
Else
|
11 March
|
WC
|
|
15 March
|
The
formation and evolution of
dwarf galaxies: data and models
Damped Ly-alpha systems: observations
and models
|
Johannes
Bruno
|
17 March
|
The
evolution of massive
galaxies: colors, magnitudes, star formation rates, stellar
populations
High-redshift galaxies
|
Matteo
Elif
|
18 March
|
WC
|
|
22 March
|
Mergers
The evolution of
morphologies |
Ytsen
Celine
|
24 March
|
The formation and evolution of
disk galaxies |
(Trager)
|
25 March
|
(no class: Good Friday) |
|
29 March
|
The formation and evolution of
early-type galaxies: data
The formation and evolution of early-type galaxies: models
|
Ytsen
Matthijs
|
31 March
|
Review of course: outstanding
questions
|
(Trager)
|
1 April
|
WC
|
|