Letters of Intent received in 2014

LoI 2016-241
Galaxy formation and the new giant telescopes of the 2020s

Topics

1. Massive galaxy formation in the early universe
2. QSO absorption lines, gas infall and outflow, and the regulation of star formation
3. Disk formation and the evolution of galaxy structural parameters
4. The evolving interstellar medium in galaxies – metallicity and physical conditions
5. AGN host galaxies and their relation to black hole growth
6. Star formation history and the dark matter cores of dwarf galaxies
7. Galaxy evolution in the context of large scale structure
8. The role of the next generation giant optical/infrared telescopes for studying galaxy evolution

Rationale

Galaxies contain stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. They are the sites of cosmic recycling, where gas gets collected in dark matter halos and is converted into stars, metals, and radiation. They host central black holes, whose evolution is somehow coupled to that of the galaxies themselves. Galaxies blow metals back into the intergalactic medium, and the radiation they produce affects the ionization and other properties of intergalactic gas. Galaxies are also “cosmic signposts” that map Large Scale Structure in the Universe. Their evolution is connected to the large-scale “ecosystem” in which they are situated.

Although the availability of large ground- and space-based facilities in the last two decades has led to significant advances in our understanding of star formation, the gas cycling in galaxies, and galaxy assembly and evolution across cosmic time, the complexity of the baryonic physical process leaves many puzzles that still challenge our theoretical understanding of galaxy formation. These include: When and how do massive galaxies form? How is a galaxy's evolution connected to its large-scale environment? What is the cycle of gas infall and outflow from galaxies, and how does it relate to the history of star formation and black hole growth? What role do supermassive black holes play in galaxy evolution? How do galaxy disks evolve, and how are mass, star formation, metallicity, and the physical conditions of the interstellar medium interrelated? How can we understand the dark matter structure of dwarf galaxies?

Powerful facilities coming on line in this decade (ALMA, JWST, JVLA) will provide detailed new information about galaxy formation and evolution, while the 2020s will see the advent of new, giant optical/infrared telescopes: the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). A major theme of this symposium is to discuss in detail the observational and theoretical work that needs to be done now to advance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution, and to assess how the next generation of giant telescopes will be used to transform our understanding of this subject. The SOC will consist of experts on observational and theoretical studies of galaxy evolution, the AGN-galaxy connection, the IGM and QSO absorption lines, and other related topics. SOC members will be drawn from Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, and will include scientists involved with all three of the giant telescope projects.