Probing Galaxy Evolution by Unveiling the Structure of Massive Galaxies Across Cosmic Time and in Diverse Environments

249 Pages·2015·7.01 MB·English

by  Timothy Weinzirl (auth.)

Springer Theses
Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research
Timothy Weinzirl

Probing Galaxy
Evolution by Unveiling
the Structure of
Massive Galaxies
Across Cosmic Time
and in Diverse
Environments
Springer Theses
Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research
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Timothy Weinzirl
Probing Galaxy Evolution
by Unveiling the Structure
of Massive Galaxies Across
Cosmic Time and in Diverse
Environments
Doctoral Thesis accepted by the University
of Texas at Austin, USA
123
TimothyWeinzirl
DepartmentofAstronomy
UniversityofTexasatAustin
Austin,TX,USA
ISSN2190-5053 ISSN2190-5061(electronic)
ISBN978-3-319-06958-6 ISBN978-3-319-06959-3(eBook)
DOI10.1007/978-3-319-06959-3
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InmemoryofGrandpa&Grandma

Foreword
Thisexcellentthesis,byDr.TimothyWeinzirl,usesthenovelapproachofstructural
archaeologytounveiltheassemblyhistoryofgalaxiesacrossdiverseenvironments
and over a wide range of cosmic epochs covering over two-thirds of the age
of the Universe. Structural archaeology involves using the mass budget between
two fundamental structural components of galaxies—dynamically cold, flat, disk-
dominatedcomponentsversusdynamicallyhotclassicalbulges—tocharacterizethe
relative importance of different assembly modes, including galaxy major mergers,
minor mergers, gas accretion, and secular evolution, in building up galaxies over
cosmictime.
Thisthesisusescutting-edgedatasets,includingsomeofthelargestanddeepest
galaxy surveys conducted with the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as insightful
comparisonswithcontemporaryhierarchicalmodelsofgalaxyevolution.Students
andresearchersworkingongalaxyevolutionwillbenefitfromthedetailedpedagog-
icaldescriptionsofthemethodologyandtailoredtechniquesaddressingsystematic
effects. A major finding of this work is that disk structures are far more prevalent
in massive galaxies over a wide range across different epochs than previously
appreciated.Thisraisesimportantchallengesforcurrentmodelsofgalaxyevolution.
Thisthesispavesthewayforthefutureexplorationsofgalaxiesatearliercosmic
times,whichwillonlybepossiblewithnextgenerationfacilities,suchastheJames
WebbSpaceTelescopeandtheground-basedGiantMagellanTelescope.
Austin,TX,USA ShardhaJogee
May2014
vii

Acknowledgements
There are several people who need to be acknowledged for directly or indirectly
contributing to this book of my Ph.D. thesis. First and foremost, I thank my
adviser Shardha Jogee for providing access to the Hubble Space Telescope data
used in Chaps.3 and 4, for providing introductions to observational and theorist
collaborators, and for providing critical commentary and suggestions on every
chapter.Thisworkwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthecontributionsfrommy
theorist collaborators Sadegh Khochfar, Eyal Neistein, Andreas Burkert, Thorsten
Naab, and Ludwig Oser. My Ph.D. Committee members John Kormendy, Bev
Wills,MilosMilosavljevic,ReynierPeletier,andVolkerBrommprovidedadditional
valuablecommentaryandsuggestions.
I acknowledge the support and encouragement from my parents, and extended
family,especiallymylatematernalgrandparents,regardingmydecisiontopursuea
Ph.D.
I am grateful that during my thesis I developed not just as a scientist but also
asanathlete.Mytransformationintoa200-pound powerliftermadetheburden of
completingaPh.D.muchlessheavythanitotherwisewouldhavebeen.Tothisend,
IfurtherthankthefriendlyfarmersattheAustinSustainableFoodCenterFarmers’
Market for offering their outstanding products and first-class service every week,
rainorshine.
Finally, I thank my good friend Tom Montemayor for kindly informing me in
July2011thatallgraduatestudentswhospeakattheMcDonaldObservatoryBoard
ofVisitorsMeetingpasstheirPh.D.defense.
ix