Revealing the hidden intracluster medium in a distant protocluster of galaxies

Recent telescope observations have discovered clusters of galaxies when the universe was only 10% of its current age. They formed stars vigorously at rates of up to 10,000 solar masses per year, quite the opposite of nearby galaxy clusters that are predominantly quiescent. The cause for their extreme starburst nature of the most distant protoclusters is not understood. In this project, we propose to identify an explanation for their extreme star formation by conducting an unbiased search for its star formation fuel. Specifically, the intern will calibrate and analyze the ALMA observations of one such distant protocluster, which is designed to reveal the intracluster medium that previous observations were insensitive to. If the protocluster is found to harbour a copious amount of gas in between galaxies in the intracluster medium, it will widely impact the research area of structure formation in the universe.

Faculty Supervisor:

Allison Man

Student:

Partner:

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Technology; Information and Communications Technology; Other

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: