Talk Title and Abstract:
Probing the extremes of galaxy evolution with new stellar population synthesis models
Stellar populations provide one of the only available windows into the evolutionary histories of galaxies -- particularly at early epochs that are not directly observable. The stellar populations of the Milky Way galaxy and Local Group galaxies are relatively easily studied and understood because we can resolve and directly observe the individual stars. However, we must rely on population synthesis models to interpret the integrated light observations for more distant galaxies. These kinds of measurements have proven to be extraordinarily powerful but have also highlighted significant gaps in our knowledge of galaxy evolution and hierarchical assembly. In this talk, I will present the results from ongoing work to obtain spatially-resolved element abundances of objects at the extreme of galaxy evolution using a new generation of population synthesis models. I will also detail how the new models used in conjunction with novel statistical techniques enable a new, precision era of using globular clusters as independent tracers of early star-formation and hierarchical assembly. I will conclude with how these techniques must be further developed to make full use of the next-generation telescope facilities to take a transformative step towards understanding galaxy formation.
Would you like to join this Zoom seminar? Please email Donna Hayes.