Extragalactic astrophysics

Enrollment into the program. It is recommended that the student is familiar with the material which is part of the courses Astronomy II within the Bologna I studies of Physics. Completed written assignments are a prerequisite for the oral exam.

Introduction: basic tools for extragalactic observations
Our galaxy: composition and kinematics of our galaxy, gravitational microlensing and the search for dark matter, the galactic centre.
Galaxies: classification, properties of elliptical and spiral galaxies, scaling relations, determination of extragalactic distances, galaxy luminosity functions, galaxies and gravitational lensing, population synthesis, chemical evolution.
Basics of cosmology: basic observations, expansion of the universe and its consequences, thermal history of the universe, achievements and problems of the standard model.
Active galaxies and active galactic nuclei: an overview of active galaxies, supermassive black holes, unified model, quasar luminosity function and K-correction.
Clusters and groups of galaxies: Local group, galaxies in groups, X-ray radiation of jets, scaling relations for galaxy clusters, clusters as gravitational lenses.
Inhomogeneities in space: gravitational instability, description and evolution of density fluctuations, non-linear development of structures, proper motions, formation of density fluctuations.
Cosmological parameters: Galaxies in surveys, cosmological parameters using galaxy clusters, supernovae at high redshifts and cosmological constant, origin of Lyman-alpha forest, anisotropy scattering, cosmological parameters.
The universe at high redshifts: Galaxies at high redshifts, new types of galaxies, radiation backgrounds in infrared and X-ray light, reionization, star formation history, galaxy formation and evolution, gamma-ray bursts.

P. Schneider: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology: An introduction, Springer-Verlag, 2006

Getting to know research methods and results of extragalactic astrophysics, from the formation of galaxies to the large-scale structure. Getting to know extragalactic observations that determine cosmological parameters.

Knowledge and understanding:
Understanding the formation and development of galaxies, large-scale structure and the universe as a whole.
Application:
Methods and results of extragalactic astrophysics are the physical basis of modern observational cosmology.
Reflection:
A reflection on our position in the universe, the evolution of the universe and on the universality of physical laws.
Transferable skills:
Ability to use physics and mathematical problem-solving skills, ability to link observational data and theoretical models, and critical analysis of papers in the literature.

Lectures, exercises, numerical problems, seminars, homework, consultations

Final written exam and/or seminar
Oral exam or individual project
grading: 5 (fail), 6-10 (pass) (according to the Statute of UL)

Maruša Bradač
• BRADAČ, Maruša. The high-redshift universe with Spitzer. Nature astronomy, ISSN 2397-3366, May 2020, vol. 4, str. 478-485. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1104-5, doi: 10.1038/s41550-020-1104-5. [COBISS-SI-ID 51102723],
• HOAG, Austin Thomas, BRADAČ, Maruša, et al. Spectroscopic con!rmation of an ultra-faint galaxy at the epoch of reionization. Nature astronomy, ISSN 2397-3366, April 2017, vol. 1, a91, str. 1-6. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0091, doi: 10.1038/s41550-017-0091. [COBISS-SI-ID 51125507],
• KELLY, Patrick L., BRADAČ, Maruša, et al. Multiple images of a highly magni!ed supernova formed by an early-type cluster galaxy lens. Science, ISSN 1095-9203, 6. march 2015, vol. 347,no. 6226, str. 1123-1126. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/347/6226/1123.full.pdf, doi: 10.1126/science.aaa3350. [COBISS-SI-ID 52560643],
• BRADAČ, Maruša, et al. Spectroscopic con!rmation of a z = 6.740 galaxy behind the Bullet Cluster. The Astrophysical journal. Letters, ISSN 2041-8213. [Spletna izd.], August 2012, vol. 755, issue 1, l7, str. 1-6. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2041-8205/755/1/L7/pdf, doi: 10.1088/2041 8205/755/1/L7. [COBISS-SI-ID 52656899]
• CLOWE, Douglas, BRADAČ, Maruša, GONZALEZ, Anthony H., MARKEVITCH, Maxim, RANDALL, Scott W., JONES, Christine, ZARITSKY, Dennis. A direct empirical proof of the existence of dark matter. The Astrophysical journal, supplement series, ISSN 0067-0049, Sep. 2006, 648, no. 2, str. L109-L113, ilustr. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/508162. [COBISS-SI-ID 15974152]

Dunja Fabjan
• PLANELLES, Susana, FABJAN, Dunja, BORGANI, Stefano, MURANTE, Giuseppe, RASIA, Elena, et al. Pressure of the hot gas in simulations of galaxy clusters. Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, ISSN 1365-2966, 2017, vol. 467, issue 4, str. 3827-3847
• PLANELLES, Susana, FABJAN, Dunja, et al. On the role of AGN feedback on the thermal and chemodynamicalproperties of the hot intracluster medium. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2014, vol. 438, issue 1, str. 195-216
• FABJAN, Dunja, et al. X-ray mass proxies from hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy clusters – I. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2011, vol. 416, issue 2, str. 801-816
• FABJAN, Dunja, et al. Simulating the effect of active galactic nuclei feedback on the metal enrichment of galaxy clusters. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2010, vol. 401, issue 3, str. 1670-1690
• FABJAN, Dunja, et al. Evolution of the metal content of the intracluster medium with hydrodynamical simulations. Monthly notices of the royal astronomical society, ISSN 0035-8711, 2008, vol. 386, issue 3, str. 1265-1273