Objective The goal of this project is to discover the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. The astrophysics of galaxy formation is deeply fascinating. From tiny density fluctuations of quantum mechanical nature believed to have formed during an inflationary period a tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang during structure slowly formed through gravitational collapse. This process is strongly dependent on the nature of the dominant, but unknown form of matter - the dark matter. In the project proposed here I will study the epoch of first galaxy formation and the subsequent few billion years of cosmic evolution using gamma-ray bursts and Lyman-α (Lyα) emitting galaxies as probes. I am the principal investigator on two observational projects utilizing these probes. In the first project, I will over three years starting October 2009 be using the new X-shooter spectrograph on the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope to build a sample of ~100 gamma-ray bursts with UV/optical/near-IR spectroscopic follow-up. The objective of this project is to measure primarily metallicities, molecular content, and dust content of the gamma-ray burst host galaxies. I am primarily interested in the redshift range from 9 to 2 corresponding to about 500 million years to 3 billions years after the Big Bang. In the 2nd project we will use the new European Southern Observatory survey telescope VISTA. I am co-PI of the Ultra-VISTA project that over the next 5 years starting December 2009 will create an ultradeep image (about 2000 hr of total integration time) of a piece of sky known as the COSMOS field. I am responsible for the part of the project that will use a narrow-band filter to search for Lyα emitting galaxies at a redshift of 8.8 (corresponding to about 500 million years after the Big Bang) - believed to correspond to the epoch of formation of some of the very first galaxies. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmologybig bangnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsdark matternatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmologygalaxy evolution Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE9 - ERC Starting Grant - Universe sciences Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET Address Norregade 10 1165 Kobenhavn Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Johan Peter Uldall Fynbo (Dr.) Administrative Contact Ivan Kristoffersen (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET Denmark EU contribution € 1 002 000,00 Address Norregade 10 1165 Kobenhavn See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Johan Peter Uldall Fynbo (Dr.) Administrative Contact Ivan Kristoffersen (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
