Project description
Illuminating dark matter nature in dwarf galaxies
Low-mass (dwarf) galaxies, with masses under a few billion solar masses, are crucial for testing dark matter models and understanding baryonic physics on small scales. They offer insights into early star formation, chemical enrichment and galaxy formation but are difficult to study due to their low surface brightness. Most knowledge comes from nearby dwarfs orbiting the Milky Way. Recent advances are driving rapid discoveries of dwarf galaxies beyond our galaxy. The ERC-funded HiddenUniverse project will leverage two novel wide-field surveys to study ultra-faint and classical dwarfs beyond the Milky Way, shedding light on their dark matter structure and uncovering the baryonic processes that shape them. Project findings will help guide future community surveys like LSST, Euclid and Roman.
Objective
Low-mass (dwarf) galaxies, with masses under a few billion solar masses, hold significant importance in astrophysics. They are the key objects in challenging dark matter models on small scales, yet considerable uncertainties remain in our understanding of their baryonic physics. Dwarfs also hold important clues on early star formation and chemical enrichment, and on the buildup of galaxies and the black holes within them. However, studying them has been hard their low surface brightness nature makes them challenging to detect using standard instrumentation and survey techniques. Despite decades of research, our understanding of dwarfs primarily relies on those in our galactic neighborhood, orbiting the Milky Way. Recent technological advances have sparked a thrilling era of rapid dwarf galaxy discovery beyond the Milky Way. I propose a research program using two novel wide-field surveys, capitalizing on instrumentation designed specifically for this purpose to transform three key aspects: (1) With data from the Dragonfly Wide Field Survey, I will perform a pioneering study of galaxies down to the ultra-faint regime well beyond the Local Group. I will also utilize proprietary data from the Merian Survey to construct a sample of 100,000 classical dwarf galaxies at a redshift of z=0.05-0.1. These datasets will establish a solid foundation for understanding the census low-mass galaxies; (2) By combining kinematic measurements and dynamical modeling, I will obtain constraints on dwarfs dark matter halo profiles, shedding light on core vs. cusp structures, dynamical friction, and dark matter on small scales; and (3) Pinpoint the baryonic processes that shape these galaxies by studying their stellar, gas, and star formation properties. With leadership roles in both observational initiatives, an in-depth understanding of the data, and exclusive data access, I'm uniquely positioned to lead this program, timed ahead of future community surveys like LSST, Euclid, and Roman.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics
- social sciences sociology demography census
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.