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, 2014.

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 assignments, individual homework, consultations

Final written exam and/or seminar and/or homework assignments
Oral exam or individual project
5 - 10, a student passes the exam if he is graded from 6 to 10

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:

• ILC, Samo, FABJAN, Dunja, RASIA, Elena, BORGANI, Stefano, DOLAG, Klaus. Properties of the diffuse gas component in filaments detected in the Dianoga cosmological simulations. Astronomy & astrophysics. let. 690, october 2024, a32, str. 1-16. ISSN 1432-0746 

• RIHTARŠIČ, Gregor, BIFFI, Veronica, FABJAN, Dunja, DOLAG, Klaus, et al. Environmental dependence of AGN activity and star formation in galaxy clusters from Magneticum simulations. Astronomy & astrophysics. let. 683, march 2024, a57, str. 1-14. ISSN 1432-0746 

• 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 

• 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. 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