Colloquia: 2011
DateTalk TitleSpeaker
January 5, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Bars, Streams, and PAndAS: Galactic Dynamics and Hierarchical Clustering in the Nearby UniverseLarry Widrow, Queen's University
January 19, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
AGNs, Small-Scale Dynamo and Magnetic Fields in Galaxy ClustersHui Li, LANL
January 26, 2011
KICP Colloquium
First Result from QUIETAkito Kusaka, The University of Chicago
February 2, 2011 cancelled
KICP Colloquium
A New Framework for Treating Small ScaleBob Wald, The University of Chicago
February 9, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Joys of turbulent convection and dynamos in both stellar envelopes and coresJuri Toomre, JILA, University of Colorado at Boulder
February 16, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Exploring the Beginning of the Universe.Leonardo Senatore, Stanford University
February 23, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
The physics of magnetohydrodynamics turbulenceStanislav Boldyrev, University of Wisconsin - Madison
March 2, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Blast from the Past: Hydrodynamic and X-ray Modeling of the Circumstellar Medium as Clues to Supernova ProgenitorsVikram Dwarkadas, University of Chicago
March 9, 2011
KICP Colloquium
A New Twist on Galactic StructureDennis Zaritsky, University of Arizona
March 16, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Is the cosmic-ray positron excess evidence for Dark Matter Decay?Nir J. Shaviv, Racah Inst. of Physics, Hebrew University
March 30, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
A generative model of everything in the Universe (including astrophysicists)David Hogg, New York University
April 6, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Radio astronomical studies of galaxy formation: the dense gas history of the Universe and the ALMA/EVLA revolutionChris Carilli, NRAO
April 13, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Bringing our Galaxy's Supermassive Black Hole and its Environs into Focus with Laser Guide Star Adaptive OpticsAndrea Ghez, UCLA
April 20, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows as Cosmic ProbesHsiao-Wen Chen, University of Chicago
April 27, 2011
KICP Colloquium
The Effects of Small Scale Inhomogeneities on Large Scale Dynamics in CosmologyRobert Wald, University of Chicago
May 4, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Unveiling the Cosmic Far-IR Background with Herschel: The Nature of Dusty Star-Forming GalaxiesAsantha Cooray, University of California Irvine
May 11, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
The Circumgalactic Medium: 50 Years of Intellectual History and the Latest News from HST/COSJason Tumlinson, Space Telescope Science Institute
May 18, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Inflation, infinity, equilibrium and the observable UniverseAndy Albrecht, University of California, Davis
May 25, 2011
KICP Colloquium
The Multiple Crossroads of Clusters of GalaxiesAugust Evrard, University of MIchigan
June 1, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
The diverse, yet orderly lives of galaxiesMariska Kriek, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard
September 28, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Infrared Extragalactic Backgrounds Near and FarJames Bock, Caltech
October 5, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Where will Einstein fail? Insights into Gravity and Dark EnergyNiayesh Afshordi, Perimeter Institute/ University of Waterloo
October 12, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Feedback and Galaxy FormationNorm Murray, CITA
October 19, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Direct dark matter Detection with Liquefied Noble GasesDaniel McKinsey, Yale University
October 26, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Equivalence principle and cosmic accelerationLam Hui, Columbia University
November 2, 2011
KICP Colloquium
Measuring Cosmic AccelerationDavid H. Weinberg, Ohio State University
November 9, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Ultra-Faint Galaxies Around the Milky WayMarla Geha, Yale University
November 16, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Gas Outflow and Inflow in redshift 0.2<z<2 galaxiesCrystal Martin, University of California, Santa Barbara
November 30, 2011 cancelled
KICP Colloquium
The Status of SUSY and SUSY Dark MatterJonathan Feng, UC Irvine
December 7, 2011
Astronomy Colloquium
Damped Lyman alpha Absorption Systems: Neutral Gas Reservoirs for Star Formation in Early GalaxiesArthur M. Wolfe, University California, San Diego

Bars, Streams, and PAndAS: Galactic Dynamics and Hierarchical Clustering in the Nearby Universe
January 5, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Larry Widrow, Queen's University

The Local Group is a dynamic environment. Its two main constituents, M31 and the Milky Way, are continually accreting smaller galaxies. This process is beautifully captured in the Pan-Andromeda Archeological Survey, which is providing, in unprecedented detail, the structure and content of M31 and M33. Moreover, both M31 and the Milky Way are barred, which suggests that these galaxies are undergoing secular evolution. I will describe simulations that are designed to explore these and other phenomena. A numerical toolbox for generating flexible, equilibrium models of disk galaxies will also be presented.

AGNs, Small-Scale Dynamo and Magnetic Fields in Galaxy Clusters
January 19, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Fausto Cattaneo | Astronomy Colloquium
Hui Li, LANL

Galaxy clusters are important laboratories for cosmology and astrophysics. X-ray and radio observations of galaxy clusters have revealed a wealth of structures in association with extragalactic radio sources. Structures in the form of large-scale cavities and weak shocks provide a reliable gauge of the energy output of extragalactic radio jets launched by AGNs. Furthermore, they place interesting constraints on the nature of AGN outflows, especially on large scales. We will present 3-D MHD simulations of jets/lobes in the ICM and compare them with ~70 X-ray cavities as well as individual jet/lobe sources. In addition, we will present cosmological MHD simulations of galaxy cluster formation with AGN jets/lobes feedback and its implications for the origin and energetics of the cluster-wide magnetic fields. We demonstrate that the ICM turbulence is excited and sustained by the frequent mergers during the cluster formation. We quantify the available turbulent kinetic energy and nonlinear cascade rates. This turbulence excites a small-scale dynamo process that transports and amplifies the fields originated from the radio jet/lobe system. This process could be the primary process of populating the whole cluster with magnetic fields. We describe the properties of magnetic fields, including their strength, spatial distribution, power spectra and saturation mechanism. These simulations can be compared with observations made by VLA, LOFAR, and E-VLA.

First Result from QUIET
January 26, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Akito Kusaka, The University of Chicago

Cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization is the ultimate probe of primordial gravity waves in the early universe, via the B-mode (or parity odd) signal on degree angular scales. A detection of such a signal would be strong evidence of the inflation scenario and represent indirect observation of a fundamentally new phenomenon near the grand unification energy scale. With its unique HEMT radiometer technology, QUIET is among the most competitive experiments aiming to detect such a signature in the CMB. QUIET has just completed its observation from October 2008 through December 2010, first with 43GHz receiver and then with 95GHz one, collecting over 10000 hours of data in total. In this talk, I will review the QUIET experiment and report the first result from QUIET using 3458 hours of data taken with the 43GHz receiver. The result is supported by analysis techniques such as cross correlation of the maps with different pointings and the blind analysis. Thoroughly estimated systematic errors, being the least of those reported to date, demonstrate systematic cleanness of QUIET and represent a good prospect for a future project.

A New Framework for Treating Small Scale
February 2, 2011 cancelled | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Bob Wald, The University of Chicago

CANCELLED

We provide a general framework that allows one to analyze---in a mathematically precise manner---solutions to Einstein's equation wherein, a priori, nonlinear effects of small scale inhomogeneities can produce significant effects on the background geometry. This framework is a generalization (to the case where inhomogeneous matter is present) of the ``shortwave approximation'' that has been used to analyze the back-reaction effects of gravitational radiation. We prove within this framework that, provided that matter satisfies the weak energy condition (i.e. has positive energy density in all frames), the ``effective stress energy" produced by small scale inhomogeneities also must satisfy the weak energy condition and must be traceless, so it cannot mimic the effects of dark energy. We also analyze cosmological perturbation theory within this framework and calculate the corrections produced by small scale inhomogeneities to the equations satisfied by long wavelength perturbations.

Joys of turbulent convection and dynamos in both stellar envelopes and cores
February 9, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Fausto Cattaneo | Astronomy Colloquium
Juri Toomre, JILA, University of Colorado at Boulder

Stellar convection zones in most settings should be able to build magnetic fields through dynamo action, especially if the flows are turbulent and the stars rotate. There is much more subtlety as to whether the resulting magnetic fields also exhibit large-scale structure and possible temporal flips and even cycles. We have been studying through 3-D global simulations the nature of both differential rotation and dynamo action that can be achieved in G-type stars like the sun by turbulent convection in their outer envelopes, and also by core convection in more massive A-type stars. The richness of structures realized will be discussed.

Exploring the Beginning of the Universe.
February 16, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Leonardo Senatore, Stanford University

In the past few decades Cosmological observations have allowed us to explore the history of our universe and the nature of the Big Bang with greater and greater precision. They strongly suggest that our Universe started with a period of cosmic acceleration that we call Inflation. I will describe what we currently know about this initial epoch and how, thanks to the upcoming experiments, our knowledge about it might improve drastically, revealing us the dynamics that lead to it and making us extremely confident about the existence of such an epoch at the beginning of our Universe.

The physics of magnetohydrodynamics turbulence
February 23, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Fausto Cattaneo | Astronomy Colloquium
Stanislav Boldyrev, University of Wisconsin - Madison

The talk will discuss what is currently known about the properties of incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. The talk will start with a general introduction, and then will review recent analytic developments, numerical simulations, and where possible, observations and experiments. The discussion will include the role of the guide field and the ideal conservation laws, the inherent anisotropies of the turbulent energy cascade, the physics of the "imbalance" or the Alfvenization phenomenon, and the processes of self-organization.

Blast from the Past: Hydrodynamic and X-ray Modeling of the Circumstellar Medium as Clues to Supernova Progenitors
March 2, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Fausto Cattaneo | Astronomy Colloquium
Vikram Dwarkadas, University of Chicago

Supernovae (SNe) are divided into many types and sub-types,but the precise progenitor of each (sub)type of SN still remains unknown. Core-collapse supernovae (SNe) arise from the explosion of massive stars. The resultant shock wave expands in the circumstellar medium formed by mass-loss from the massive star. The interaction of the shock wave with this medium gives rise to X-ray and radio emission.

In this talk we will discuss how circumstellar interaction can be used to constrain the SN progenitor. As a specific example, we will consider SN1996cr, one of the five closest SNe to explode in the past 30 years, yet which lay undiscovered for many years. Our team was awarded a 500,000 sec Chandra HETG observation of the SN, which was completed in early 2009. In order to interpret this data, we have carried out hydrodynamic simulations, followed by computations of simulated X-ray spectra under non-equilibrium ionization conditions, that can be directly compared with the observations. These
calculations allow us to infer the evolution of the SN shock wave, the density structure, and the abundances of the ejecta and surrounding medium, to reasonable accuracy. We will show how the data allow us to constrain the progenitor properties. The deep spectra even allow us to investigate the 3D morphology of this point source by studying the
detailed line shapes. We will discuss the implications for massive star mass-loss and SN evolution.

A New Twist on Galactic Structure
March 9, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Dennis Zaritsky, University of Arizona

Unlike the theory of stellar structure, which has a simple and intuitive outline, that of galactic structure is piecemeal and ad hoc. In fact, it has been difficult even to determine whether or not one should expect there to be such an analog. Numerical modeling of the problem grows ever more sophisticated and detailed in its efforts to match observations, suggesting that perhaps the problem is beyond any simple description. However, I will, using simple and general arguments, demonstrate that the global structure of galaxies of all sizes, masses, and morphological types can be described to a high degree using only two observational parameters. I will then explore the nature of those two parameters.

Is the cosmic-ray positron excess evidence for Dark Matter Decay?
March 16, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Nir J. Shaviv, Racah Inst. of Physics, Hebrew University

Recent measurements of the positron/electron ratio in the cosmic ray (CR) flux exhibits an apparent anomaly, whereby this ratio increases between 10 and 100 GeV. This has triggered significant excitement as it can be interpreted as evidence for dark matter decay. I will show instead that the standard source for cosmic rays, that of supernova remnants, explains this ''anomaly'' once one considers the actual inhomogeneous distribution of SNe in the disk. This also explains other cosmic ray characteristics, such as the energy dependence of the Boron to Carbon ratio.

A generative model of everything in the Universe (including astrophysicists)
March 30, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Hsiao-Wen Chen | Astronomy Colloquium
David Hogg, New York University

Radio astronomical studies of galaxy formation: the dense gas history of the Universe and the ALMA/EVLA revolution
April 6, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Hsiao-Wen Chen | Astronomy Colloquium
Chris Carilli, NRAO

Deep optical and near-IR surveys have traced the star formation history of the Universe as a function of environment, stellar mass,and star formation rate, back to cosmic reionization and the first galaxies (z > 6). While progress has been truly impressive, near-IR studies of early galaxies are fundamentally limited in two ways: (i) obscuration of rest-frame UV emission by dust, and (ii) near-IR studies reveal only the stars and ionized gas, thereby missing the evolution of the cool gas in galaxies, the fuel for star formation. Line and continuum studies at radio wavelengths (cm through submm) address both these issues, by probing deep into the earliest, most active, and dust obscured, phases of galaxy formation, and by revealing the molecular and cool atomic gas. I will summarize the techniques of radio astronomy to perform these studies, then present two recent examples. The first will consider the atomic and molecular gas, dust, and star formation, in the host galaxies of z ~ 6 quasars. The host galaxies are under-going extreme starbursts, with star formation rates > 1000 Mo/year, and molecular gas masses in excess of 1e10 Mo. Through gas dynamics, we can estimate the ratio of the bulge mass to black hole mass. These observations imply that we are witnessing the co-eval formation of massive elliptical galaxies, and super-massive black holes, within 1 Gyr of the Big Bang. The second entails observations of normal galaxy formation during the 'epoch of galaxy assembly' (z ~ 1.5 to 2.5). These observations reveal massive gas reservoirs without hyper-starbursts, and that active star formation occurs over a wide range in galaxy stellar mass. We find that the peak epoch of star formation in the Universe also corresponds to an epoch when the baryon content of galaxies was dominated by molecular gas, not stars. I will conclude with a description and status report of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, and the Expanded Very Large Array. These telescopes represent an order of magnitude, or more, improvement over existing observational capabilities from 1 GHz to 1 THz, promising to revolutionize our understanding of galaxy formation.

Bringing our Galaxy's Supermassive Black Hole and its Environs into Focus with Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics
April 13, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | Host: Hsiao-Wen Chen | Astronomy Colloquium
Andrea Ghez, UCLA

The proximity of our Galaxy's center presents a unique opportunity to study a galactic nucleus with orders of magnitude higher spatial resolution than can be brought to bear on any other galaxy. After more than a decade of astrometry from diffraction-limited speckle imaging on large ground-based telescopes, the case for a supermassive black hole at the Galactic center has gone from a possibility to a certainty, thanks to measurements of individual stellar orbits. The advent of adaptive optics technology has significantly expanded the scientific reach of our high-spatial-resolution infrared studies of the Galactic center. In this talk, I will present the results of several new adaptive optics studies on (1) our current understanding of the galaxy's central gravitational potential, (2) the puzzling problem of how young stars form in the immediate vicinity of the central black hole, (3) the surprising, apparent absence of the predicted central stellar cusp around the central supermassive black hole (an essential input into models for the growth of nuclear black holes), and (4) how future large ground-based telescope may allow these studies to test general relativity and cosmological models.

Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows as Cosmic Probes
April 20, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Hsiao-Wen Chen, University of Chicago

Gamma-ray bursts are among the most energetic events in the universe. Many bursts are followed by extremely luminous optical afterglows that can serve as a sensitive probe of "dark", intervening baryonic matter in space. I will review recent progress in our understanding of interstellar medium and intergalactic matter in the distant universe based on observations of long-duration gamma-ray bursts.

The Effects of Small Scale Inhomogeneities on Large Scale Dynamics in Cosmology
April 27, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Robert Wald, University of Chicago

Nonlinear gravitational phenomena associated with small scale (as compared with the Hubble radius) density inhomogeneities are prevalent throughout our universe. Could the nonlinear effects of these small scale inhomogeneities produce significant effects on the large scale dynamics that are not properly taken into account by standard FLRW models, which treat the matter distribution as homogeneous? I will describe recent work with S. Green that provides a framework within the context of general relativity that allows one to analyze this issue in a mathematically precise manner. Within this framework we prove quite generally that, provided that matter satisfies the weak energy condition (i.e. has positive energy density in all frames), the “effective gravitational stress energy” associated with small scale inhomogeneities also must satisfy the weak energy condition and must be traceless---corresponding to gravitational radiation. In particular, nonlinear effects of small scale inhomogeneities cannot be responsible for the acceleration of our universe. We also analyze cosmological perturbation theory within this framework and calculate the corrections produced by small scale inhomogeneities to the equations satisfied by long wavelength perturbations.

Unveiling the Cosmic Far-IR Background with Herschel: The Nature of Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies
May 4, 2011 | RI 480 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Asantha Cooray, University of California Irvine

The talk will summarize latest results from HerMES and H-ATLAS extragalactic surveys at 250, 350 and 500 microns with the SPIRE instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. HerMES is the multi-tiered SPIRE instrument GTO survey covering about 70 square degrees on a variety of extragalactic fields with existing ancillary data. H-ATLAS is currently the largest open-time program in Herschel with 600 hours of observations to map 550 square degrees. I will discuss a newly discovered population of lensed sub-mm galaxies, the halo properties of bright and faint sub-mm galaxies as revealed by clustering and fluctuation studies, evolution of dust and molecular properties, the role of sub-mm sources in galaxy formation and evolution models, sub-mm source follow-up effort, and the future of sub-mm astronomy. I will also summarize the scientific goals of the Herschel-SPIRE Legacy Survey, a program now under discussions with ESA to cover 1500 sq. degrees with SPIRE in a fast-scan mode with the ultimate goal of recovering a catalog of 1.5 million bright sub-mm sources for future studies with ALMA, CCAT, and SPICA.

The Circumgalactic Medium: 50 Years of Intellectual History and the Latest News from HST/COS
May 11, 2011 | KPTC 106 | 3:30 PM | Host: Hsiao-Wen Chen | Astronomy Colloquium
Jason Tumlinson, Space Telescope Science Institute

In recent years we have come to appreciate the great importance of the gas just outside galaxies - the circumgalactic medium - to galaxy formation and evolution. I will survey the intellectual history of this subject going back to the 1960s before presenting the latest results from two large HST projects that are using the new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to systemically characterize the gaseous halos of low-redshift galaxies. COS has uncovered a clear link between star formation and hot gas in gaseous halos beyond 100 kpc, and strong indications of winds propagating from star-forming galaxies. These results show that the circumgalactic medium likely does participate in the ongoing star formation and evolution of modern galaxies.

Inflation, infinity, equilibrium and the observable Universe
May 18, 2011 | KPTC 106 (talk) | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Andy Albrecht, University of California, Davis

Cosmic inflation has given us a remarkably successful cosmological phenomenology. But the original goal of explaining why the cosmos is *likely* to take the form we observe has proven very difficult to realize. I first review the popular idea of "eternal inflation" with an eye on the roles various infinities have (both helpful and unhelpful) in our current understanding. I then discuss attempts to construct an alternative cosmological framework that is truly finite using ideas about equilibrium and dark energy. I report some recent results that point to observable signatures.

The Multiple Crossroads of Clusters of Galaxies
May 25, 2011 | KPTC 106 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
August Evrard, University of MIchigan

In this talk, I will present galaxy clusters as systems spanning multiple spaces: the traditional crossroads of astrophysics and cosmology as well as the fast developing crossroads of theory, computation and observation. While the current paradigm for large-scale structure formation - a hierarchical web of quasi-equilibrium halos emerging from a noise field imposed by inflation - is largely secure, important details ranging from the profound (nature of dark energy) to the practical (rate of star formation as a function of galactic environment) remain poorly understood. Clusters of galaxies present opportunities for detailed testing of cosmological and astrophysical models, and I will discuss challenges posed by survey selection and cluster characterization. What's clear is that precise analysis of the cluster population requires that theory/computation meet observation on a common ground. The angle-wavelength space of the sky offers a natural crossroads for such a meeting, and this choice imposes new requirements on the community to build an efficient "cosmic sky machine". I will sketch ideas for developing community-wide cyberinfrastructure that could accelerate the pace of understanding cosmic structure formation.

The diverse, yet orderly lives of galaxies
June 1, 2011 | KPTC 106 | 3:30 PM | Host: Hsiao-Wen Chen | Astronomy Colloquium
Mariska Kriek, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard

At first glance the galaxy population today and even more so at earlier times exhibits a huge diversity. However, the well-known correlations between different galaxy properties, such as spatial structure, stellar population, stellar mass, stellar dynamics, and environment suggest that galaxy formation is actually an orderly process. With the recent large photometric and spectroscopic surveys and new instrumentation on the Hubble Space Telescope, it is now finally possible to study galaxies in a systematic way at earlier times, so that we can see directly how these relations change over cosmic time and what the physical processes are that drive them. Until very recently, these studies were hampered by the small sizes of spectroscopic galaxy samples, whereas much larger photometric samples lack the required spectroscopic information. I will discuss a novel approach, that makes use of medium-band photometry to perform detailed spectroscopic studies of ~3500 galaxies at 0.5
Infrared Extragalactic Backgrounds Near and Far
September 28, 2011 | BSLC 001 (Knapp Bldg.) | 3:30 PM | Host: Andrey V. Kravtsov | Astronomy Colloquium
James Bock, Caltech

The extragalactic background light (EBL) provides an integral measure of the radiation produced by galaxy formation over cosmic history. Precise measurements of the spatial structure of the EBL promise to reveal the formation of galaxies from dark matter over-densities, and tease out signatures from the epoch of reionization. The ESA Herschel Space Observatory, with unprecedented sensitivity and mapping speed, has opened a new window on the far-infrared extragalactic universe. I will discuss recent results from the Hermes/Herschel guaranteed-time extragalactic survey, a large nested far-infrared photometric survey using the SPIRE and PACS instruments. In the near-infrared, the CIBER experiment is conducting a search for the EBL component produced by starlight from the epoch of reionization. CIBER uses a new Fraunhofer line measurement to improve absolute EBL photometry, and a multi-wavelength fluctuations measurement to probe for the reionization component based on spatial power spectra. Finally this is a field with rich potential for future measurements, and I will discuss plans for combining EBL measurements with CMB and 21 cm surveys.

Where will Einstein fail? Insights into Gravity and Dark Energy
October 5, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Niayesh Afshordi, Perimeter Institute/ University of Waterloo

Despite being the most successfully tested theory in physics, there are strong theoretical and observational arguments for why General Relativity should fail. It is not a question of if, but rather a question of where and when! I start by summarizing the pathologies in Einstein's theory of gravity, and then attempt to forecast where we should first observe its failure. My best bets so far are: 1) Cosmological matter-radiation transition, 2) Neutron stars, 3) Astrophysical black holes, and their potential connection to dark energy. What all these scenarios have in common is the violation of Lorentz symmetry, or a revival of "gravitational aether".

Feedback and Galaxy Formation
October 12, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:00 PM | Host: Andrey V. Kravtsov | Astronomy Colloquium
Norm Murray, CITA

Feedback from young stars plays a critical role in shaping the galaxy mass function, particularly at the low mass end, while feedback from supermassive black holes appears to shape the high mass end, statements supported by both numerical and semi-analytic models of galaxy formation. However, the exact form of the feedback is not certain. I will describe recent work shedding light on this problem. First I will describe three dimensional radiative magnetohydrodynamics calculations of the effects of young stars and supernovae on giant molecular clouds, showing that star formation is rapid, but that feedback halts star formation when ~5-10% of the cloud is turned into stars; supernovae play only a minor role. Next I will describe high resolution (~1 parsec) SPH simulations of star forming galaxies employing momentum feedback from young stars, as well as heating from supernovae, O star winds, and HII regions, showing that all these forms of feedback have a role to play, with different forms of feedback coming to the fore in different galaxies. These simulations naturally produce galactic scale superwinds, with mass loss rates from 1-10 times the star formation rate. Finally, I will briefly describe recent results on quasar feedback, including observational constraints one the launching mechanism of BAL winds, one of the more promising forms of "quasar mode" feedback.

Direct dark matter Detection with Liquefied Noble Gases
October 19, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Daniel McKinsey, Yale University

Astrophysical evidence on a variety of distance scales clearly shows that we cannot account for a large fraction of the mass of the universe. This matter is “dark”, not emitting or absorbing any electromagnetic radiation. A compelling explanation for this missing mass is the existence of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs).
Detectors that are low in radioactivity and sensitive to small energy depositions can search for the rare nuclear recoil events predicted by WIMP models. In recent years, several new efforts on direct dark matter detection have begun in which the detection material is a liquefied noble gas. Advantages include: large nuclear recoil signals in both scintillation and ionization channels, good scalability to large target masses, effective discrimination against gamma ray backgrounds, easy purification, and reasonable cost. I will review the results from recent experiments, describe some recent R&D, and present the status of two of the new detectors currently under construction, LUX and MiniCLEAN. I will also discuss the possibility of using superfluid helium as a target for relatively light WIMPs.

Equivalence principle and cosmic acceleration
October 26, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Lam Hui, Columbia University

Theories that attempt to explain the observed acceleration of the universe by modifying gravity typically introduces a new long range force, which must be screened on small scales to satisfy solar system tests. I will discuss when and how such screening mechanisms lead to O(1) violations of the equivalence principle. Astronomical tests involving large scale structure, rotation curves and red giants will be discussed.

Measuring Cosmic Acceleration
November 2, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
David H. Weinberg, Ohio State University

The discovery of accelerating cosmic expansion has inspired ambitious programs to measure the expansion history and growth of structure with perecent-level precision over a wide range of redshift. These programs include some of the largest cosmological surveys currently underway and some of the highest priority projects recommended by the Astro2010 decadal survey. I will summarize highlights from a nearly completed, book-length review article on "Observational Probes of Cosmic Acceleration" (Weinberg, Mortonson, Eisenstein, Hirata, Riess, Rozo, in prep.).
I will pay particular attention to the complementarity of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and supernovae as distance indicators, to the potential of galaxy clusters calibrated by stacked weak lensing as a probe of structure growth, and to the power of a balanced, multi-pronged observational program that combines supernovae, BAO, weak lensing, and additional methods enabled by the same data sets.
The dark energy community is now searching for subtle quantitative anomalies that would have profound physical implications, distinguishing among fundamentally different theories of the energy content of the universe, the nature of gravity, and the origin of cosmic acceleration.
The road from 5-percent measurements to 1-percent or sub-percent measurements is a challenging one, but we are well equipped for the journey.

Ultra-Faint Galaxies Around the Milky Way
November 9, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | Host: Andrey V. Kravtsov | Astronomy Colloquium
Marla Geha, Yale University

In the past several years, fourteen new satellite galaxies have been discovered around the Milky Way, more than doubling the known population. These "ultra-faint" galaxies have emerged as the least luminous and most dark-matter-dominated galaxies in the known Universe. They are dramatically reshaping our understanding of galaxy formation and may hold the keys to deciphering the nature of dark matter. I will review our current understand of the ultra-faint galaxies, focusing on the constraints these objects provide on dark matter.

Gas Outflow and Inflow in redshift 0.2<z<2 galaxies
November 16, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | Host: Andrey V. Kravtsov | Astronomy Colloquium
Crystal Martin, University of California, Santa Barbara

We present new results on the kinematics of metal-enriched gas near galaxies over a period in which star formation activity and gas accretion mechanism are thought to evolve strongly. We focus on constraints provided by near-ultraviolet spectroscopy of star-forming galaxies between redshift 2.0 and 0.4 obtained over a several year period with multislit spectroscopy at Keck. In particular, we investigate the properties of galactic outflows via interstellar absorption lines, resonance emission, and fluorescent emission. We compare the properties of the galaxies that host the outflows to those that do not; and we examine how outflow velocity varies with galactic mass and star formation rate. The most interesting aspect of this analysis, however, may be the discovery of infalling, metal-enriched gas in a small, but significant, fraction of the galaxies. Because the properties of these 'inflow galaxies' appear to be otherwise indistinguishable from the outflow galaxies; it is possible that they mark a ubiquitous phenomemon observed at an optimal orientation. From this more quantitative understanding of how metals circulate in and out of galaxies, we discuss both the escape of metals from galaxies and the mixing of gas ejected by winds with the "cold flows" that characterize cosmological models of galaxy formation.

The Status of SUSY and SUSY Dark Matter
November 30, 2011 cancelled | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | KICP Colloquium
Jonathan Feng, UC Irvine

CANCELLED

Given the absence of signals at the LHC so far, some have begun mourning the death of weak-scale supersymmetry. Here I present a different view. After reviewing the brittle concept of naturalness, I will present some attractive and viable SUSY models and explain their implications for particle physics and dark matter.

Damped Lyman alpha Absorption Systems: Neutral Gas Reservoirs for Star Formation in Early Galaxies
December 7, 2011 | BSLC 001 | 3:30 PM | Host: Andrey V. Kravtsov | Astronomy Colloquium
Arthur M. Wolfe, University California, San Diego

Damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems (DLAs) are gas layers that dominate the neutral-gas content of the Universe in the redshift interval z=[0,5] and serves as neutral-gas reservoirs for star formation in early galaxies. I first discuss results of our recent Keck survey for the DLAs out to z=5. I focus on evolution of metal content of the gas. I emphasize the connection between DLAs and the galactic stellar populations, in particular the galactic halo. I next discuss our recent study of the star formation efficiency of DLA neutral gas. I focus on two independent tests indicating that the efficiency of star formation in DLAs is far below that indicated by the standard Kennicutt-Schmidt (K-S) Law. Finally, I discuss DLA thermodynamics. I emphasize the importance of detecting the principal coolant of neutral gas in DLAs, i.e., the [C II] 158 micron emission line.