Galactic archeology: evolution of the physical properties of galaxies

• Grant number: 06/00304-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2006
• End date: July 13, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Laerte Sodré Junior
• Grantee: Abilio Mateus Junior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The integrated light coming from a galaxy carry informations about the properties of its stellar populations and the physical processes which have guided its formation and evolution. Thus, galaxy spectra can be considered as fossil records of the evolution of galaxy properties, providing a source for the study of the global star formation history of the Universe. In this project, we will make use of the results obtained from the application of a spectral synthesis method to a large galaxy sample extracted from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, aiming to evaluate the star formation and metallicity histories of nearby galaxies. We will also study the stellar population properties of specific galaxy types, such as the k+a galaxies (or post-starburst galaxies). The evolution of physical properties of galaxies will be investigated through the galactic archaeology approach, as well as through a more traditional one, by studying the properties of galaxies in high redshifts (DEEP2 data) and then tracing their evolution to z ~ 0. We will also analyse the feasibility of using the spectral data that will be gathered by the WFMOS of GEMINI in studies on the evolution of galaxy properties; an additional study about new science cases for this instrument will also be a topic of this project.