LYMAN-ALPHA UNIVERSE · Lyman-alpha Radiation Transfer simulations to prepare and analyze MUSE observations of distant galaxies
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2010-09-01 → 2012-08-31
- EU contribution
- €165,462
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-IEF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Lyman-alpha Radiation Transfer simulations to prepare and analyze MUSE observations of distant galaxies
Project objectives The aim of our project was to characterise the first generation of galaxies in the universe, using their Lyman-alpha emission: -1) from the point of view of simulations, by applying Ly radiation transfer to hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy formation; -2) by analysing observations from the most efficient instrument, with a new technique, the efficiency of which has been demonstrated by the applicant. Project results Our results, and their adequacy with the work plan, are as follows: Work package 1 (WP1): Lyman-alpha radiation transfer in hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy formation - most of the fellow's research time was devoted to this aspect of the project. Several complementary studies of the Lyman-alpha transfer through virtual galaxies with different physical ingredients were undertaken. We demonstrated the impact of the small-scale structure of the interstellar medium on the Ly properties of galaxies, as well as a strong inclination effect. We implemented a new module in the code, calculating the Ly polarisation signal. WP2: Preparation of MUSE observations - our library of synthetic Lyman-alpha spectra was made public. The fellow participated in a project lead by Thibault Garel, to predict the observability of high-redshift Lyman-alpha-emitting galaxies in the context of MUSE: we coupled our library of synthetic Lyman-alpha spectra to semi-analytical models of galaxy formation and evolution in order to create and analyse mock observations. WP3: Analysis of MUSE observations - this part of the project could not be done, given the delay in constructing the instrument. We then focused all our efforts on the other aspect of the proposal.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
MUSE is a second generation instrument for the ESO-VLT being built in Lyon. This integral field spectrograph is planned to start observing in autumn 2012. One of the major goals of MUSE is to detect thousands of high redshift galaxies thanks to their Lyman-alpha emission. MCLya is a 3D Lyman-alpha radiation transfer code developed by the applicant. It has been used to fit a small sample of observed Lyman-alpha lines from high redshift galaxies, constraining the gas and dust content and the star formation history of these galaxies. By performing Lyman-alpha radiation transfer through state-of-the-art hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation in cosmological volumes, we plan to make accurate predictions on MUSE detections, and influence the observation strategy. Secondly, we propose to analyze MUSE first data taking into account Lyman-alpha radiation transfer effects, to determine properties on the interstellar medium of high redshift galaxies on a statistical sample of objects, and possibly put constraints on the epoch when the Universe became reionized.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union