Project description
A new paradigm of galaxy data-model comparisons
The EU-funded GALSIZE project aims to establish a new paradigm of galaxy data-model comparisons. It will also characterise the nature of, and coupling between, dark and luminous matter in galaxies, with the aid of scaling relations, mass tracers, and numerical simulations. The project will also expand model inferences into the uncharted realm of low-mass galaxies. To do so, the project plans to assemble the largest and most complete catalogue of spatially resolved structural and dynamical properties of galaxies. The project will be led by the Astrophysics Group at Queen's University (Canada) and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (Spain), world-leading institutions for the study of galaxies and dark matter.
Objective
I propose the project Galaxy Sizes as Tracers of Dark Matter (GALSIZE) to be supervised by Prof. Courteau at Queen’s University in Kingston (Canada, Third Country for the outgoing phase) and by Prof. Knapen at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC, Tenerife, Spain, beneficiary institution and host for the incoming phase). The main scientific goals are to (S01) establish a new paradigm of galaxy data-model comparisons, developing a definitive theory of disk formation based on galaxy sizes; (S02) characterize the nature of, and coupling between, dark and luminous matter in galaxies, with the aid of scaling relations, mass tracers, and numerical simulations; and (S03) expand model inferences into the uncharted realm of low-mass galaxies. These objectives will be tackled by assembling the largest and most complete catalogue of spatially resolved structural and dynamical properties (WP2) of galaxies to characterize in a novel way their luminous and dark components (WP3). Queen's University is a world-leading institution for the study of dark matter. The Queen’s Astrophysics Group includes many experts in the observational and numerical characterization of luminous and dark matter in galaxies. The Queen’s Astroparticle group, led by 2015 Physics Nobel Laureate Prof. Art McDonald, is also at the forefront of experimental cold dark matter detections. The return phase institution, the IAC, hosts world experts in both the empirical analysis and numerical modelling of galaxies. It provides access to supercomputers and world-class telescopes (best optical/near-IR observatory in Europe). Through this MSCA-IF-GF, my training in Canada would capitalize upon my past experiences (former MSCA ESR in DAGAL ITN) by coupling photometric and spectroscopic properties of unprecedentedly large sets of galaxies and simulations to constrain in a novel way models of galaxy formation. Dissemination of the knowledge acquired in Canada would greatly complement related European efforts.
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Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
38205 San Cristobal De La Laguna
Spain