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Physical Society ColloquiumInterview for Faculty PositionThe evolution of luminous, dusty galaxiesScott ChapmanCaltechMassive elliptical galaxies mark the highest density regions of the Universe (galaxy clusters), and their environment must be an important factor in their evolution. How were these luminous galaxies formed? Are they assembled on a timescale comparable to their star-formation (implying luminous star-bursts emitting in the rest-frame submm wavelengths), or from a more prolonged build-up from passive, sub-components? The formation mechanism for massive elliptical galaxies can be tested by searching for populations of strongly clustered and gas-rich, luminous submm galaxies (SMGs) at z>2.We have recently increased the number of spectroscopically identified SMGs by two orders of magnitude, yielding for the first time, strong constraints on the evolution of luminous, dusty galaxies. The volume density of SMGs at z=2.3 is comparable to that of massive elliptical galaxies. The redshifts span a range of z=1-4, with a median z=2.3 and a quartile range of 2.0-2.7. In this talk, I will discuss the astrophysics, clustering and masses of the SMGs.
Wednesday, January 21st 2004, 15:30
Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, R.E. Bell Conference Room (room 103) |