Utilising artificial intelligence to elucidate the physics of galaxies. For decades astronomers have puzzled over the connection between the structure and evolution of galaxies and the role played by host environments. This project aims to resolve this problem by combining multi-wavelength observations, multi-component simulations, and pioneering data analysis using artificial intelligence. In particular, we target the nearby Fornax galaxy cluster as a laboratory for studying galaxy formation in ....Utilising artificial intelligence to elucidate the physics of galaxies. For decades astronomers have puzzled over the connection between the structure and evolution of galaxies and the role played by host environments. This project aims to resolve this problem by combining multi-wavelength observations, multi-component simulations, and pioneering data analysis using artificial intelligence. In particular, we target the nearby Fornax galaxy cluster as a laboratory for studying galaxy formation in dense environments. Using our novel machine learning techniques, we will elucidate the physical mechanisms that drive the rapid evolution of star formation, galactic nuclei, and gas and dust content within Fornax. Our predictions will benefit ongoing and future surveys at the national and international level. Read moreRead less
The Fundamental Physics of Galaxy Formation. The project plans to develop new insights into how galaxies form. Although galaxies appear to be complex systems, recent results have demonstrated the importance of fundamental physical quantities – angular momentum and gas fraction – in driving the appearance and basic properties of galaxies. The project plans to use a two-pronged theoretical and observational approach to incorporate these in cosmological models of galaxy formation and test key predi ....The Fundamental Physics of Galaxy Formation. The project plans to develop new insights into how galaxies form. Although galaxies appear to be complex systems, recent results have demonstrated the importance of fundamental physical quantities – angular momentum and gas fraction – in driving the appearance and basic properties of galaxies. The project plans to use a two-pronged theoretical and observational approach to incorporate these in cosmological models of galaxy formation and test key predictions against new generations of galaxy surveys. Australia has established a technological lead in the first large-scale systematic survey of galaxy angular momentum (the SAMI survey) and the project plans to test the evolutionary predictions by observing gas-rich high-redshift galaxies and local analogues using SAMI data.Read moreRead less
How do galaxies in groups run out of gas? The observed properties of galaxies are known to depend on their surrounding local environment. However, astronomers are still struggling to understand to what extent galaxy evolution is shaped by nurture, and which are the dominant physical processes involved. The key to resolving this outstanding issue is to study the cold gas component, and its relation to star formation, in galaxies across a range of environments. This project will combine an unrival ....How do galaxies in groups run out of gas? The observed properties of galaxies are known to depend on their surrounding local environment. However, astronomers are still struggling to understand to what extent galaxy evolution is shaped by nurture, and which are the dominant physical processes involved. The key to resolving this outstanding issue is to study the cold gas component, and its relation to star formation, in galaxies across a range of environments. This project will combine an unrivalled data set, which includes the most sensitive measurements of atomic and molecular hydrogen gas currently available, with state-of-the-art numerical simulations with the aim of revealing the physical mechanisms responsible for transforming galaxies in the group environment.Read moreRead less
Observing the synthetic universe: revealing the dark cosmos with future telescopes. Strange dark forces shape the universe in which we live. The project will obtain synthetic observations of a suite of model universes, allowing us to develop the key strategies that drive observations with future telescopes. It will also provide a measure of the true physical properties of the dark matter and dark energy that fill our universe.
Ultra Diffuse Galaxies: Challenging the galaxy formation paradigm . We aim to understand the origins of newly discovered Ultra Diffuse Galaxies. Their extreme properties challenge many assumptions underpinning the accepted cosmological framework within which galaxies form, especially the role of dark matter and its interaction with normal matter. Outcomes, enabled by the world’s best telescopes, novel machine learning techniques and supercomputer simulations of galaxy formation, will be a large ....Ultra Diffuse Galaxies: Challenging the galaxy formation paradigm . We aim to understand the origins of newly discovered Ultra Diffuse Galaxies. Their extreme properties challenge many assumptions underpinning the accepted cosmological framework within which galaxies form, especially the role of dark matter and its interaction with normal matter. Outcomes, enabled by the world’s best telescopes, novel machine learning techniques and supercomputer simulations of galaxy formation, will be a large new sample with measurements of their key properties and a clarification of their formation pathways. Benefits are the development of machine learning galaxy detection techniques, essential for future large data volumes, and a firmer understanding of the role of dark matter in forming galaxies over cosmic time.Read moreRead less
The major transformation mechanism of disk galaxies. This project aims to discover how lenticular (S0) galaxies formed, which has been a problem since they were first introduced as a possible transition between elliptical and spiral galaxies over 80 years ago. This project will compare observations at various wavelengths and high-resolution computer simulations. It also aims to advance physical understanding of star formation, gas and dust evolution, and morphological transformation driven by en ....The major transformation mechanism of disk galaxies. This project aims to discover how lenticular (S0) galaxies formed, which has been a problem since they were first introduced as a possible transition between elliptical and spiral galaxies over 80 years ago. This project will compare observations at various wavelengths and high-resolution computer simulations. It also aims to advance physical understanding of star formation, gas and dust evolution, and morphological transformation driven by environments. The expected benefit is to solve the problem of S0 formation and provide models to interpret the large volumes of data generated by Australian surveys.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the physical mechanisms of environment-driven galaxy evolution. The project will tackle one of the most important problems in the field of galaxy evolution: what physical mechanisms are responsible for transforming spiral galaxies into lenticular galaxies within galaxy groups? It will answer this question via advanced optical/radio observations and numerical simulations of such galaxies.
A deep survey for compact structure in the nearby universe: key science for the upgraded Australian Long Baseline Array. This project uses advances in ICT to build a national and international network of facilities that includes existing telescopes primarily on the east coast of Australia, as well as planned facilities in Western Australia and New Zealand. One of these facilities, the New Technology Demonstrator, is a crucial part of Australia's roadmap to the Square Kilometre Array. The SKA-r ....A deep survey for compact structure in the nearby universe: key science for the upgraded Australian Long Baseline Array. This project uses advances in ICT to build a national and international network of facilities that includes existing telescopes primarily on the east coast of Australia, as well as planned facilities in Western Australia and New Zealand. One of these facilities, the New Technology Demonstrator, is a crucial part of Australia's roadmap to the Square Kilometre Array. The SKA-related science and technology demonstrations we will undertake as part of this project will contribute to Australia's bid to host this $US1b instrument. This project cements a significant Trans-Tasman collaboration and brings together researchers in astrophysics and ICT to give Australia a leading position in the field of eVLBI.Read moreRead less
Weighing the Universe using fast radio bursts. Fast radio bursts are a newly-discovered astronomical phenomenon whose millisecond-timescale emission occurs at cosmological distances, rendering them exceptional probes of the matter that lies in intergalactic space. This project aims to measure the positions and obtain the distances to these bursts to make a direct measurement of the density of ordinary matter in the Universe, at least 50 per cent of which is believed to remain undetected in inter ....Weighing the Universe using fast radio bursts. Fast radio bursts are a newly-discovered astronomical phenomenon whose millisecond-timescale emission occurs at cosmological distances, rendering them exceptional probes of the matter that lies in intergalactic space. This project aims to measure the positions and obtain the distances to these bursts to make a direct measurement of the density of ordinary matter in the Universe, at least 50 per cent of which is believed to remain undetected in intergalactic space. This project will measure the distribution of this missing matter, and find how it has evolved throughout the history of the Universe. This will provide significant benefits, such as addressing two fundamental questions about our Universe: how much matter does it contain, and has a large fraction of it hitherto evaded detection in intergalactic space?Read moreRead less
“Beacons in the Night” unveiling how galaxies light up dark matter. How dark matter influences the formation and evolution of galaxies is to this day an outstanding question in astrophysics. To answer it, world-class facilities and a unique combination of observations and theory are required. This DP team, a world-class team of observers and theorists, will tackle this question by leveraging on two multi-million dollar projects: the MAGPI galaxy survey and the hydrodynamical simulations suite EA ....“Beacons in the Night” unveiling how galaxies light up dark matter. How dark matter influences the formation and evolution of galaxies is to this day an outstanding question in astrophysics. To answer it, world-class facilities and a unique combination of observations and theory are required. This DP team, a world-class team of observers and theorists, will tackle this question by leveraging on two multi-million dollar projects: the MAGPI galaxy survey and the hydrodynamical simulations suite EAGLE-XL. MAGPI will deliver exquisite kinematics for hundreds of galaxies in the middle ages of the Universe, providing a view to the effect of dark matter on galaxies at this critical time, while EAGLE-XL represents the technological frontier in simulations and provides the best interpretative framework for MAGPI.Read moreRead less