Satellite Quenching and the Lifecycle of Dwarf Galaxies.

[摘要] In the past ten years the known population of Local Group dwarf galaxies has expanded substantially, both to greater distances from the Milky Way and tolower dwarf masses. This growing sample allows us to study the dwarf system as apopulation, and ask which processes and events are most responsible for setting the properties of dwarfs. The dichotomy between star forming dwarfirregulars and quenched dwarf spheroidals is the principal differentiation wesee in this population, but we do not have a definitive understanding of whatcauses this distinction. With the aim of advancing our understanding of thisproblem, I present the discovery and characterization of additional dwarfgalaxies, further building up this sample. From this, I combine the known LocalGroup dwarfs with models of the Galaxy;;s formation to understand if interactionswith a massive host could be responsible for transforming dwarf irregulars intodwarf spheroidals. I also use these models to investigate the changingefficiency of this transformation between the lowest mass and higher masssatellites. Finally, I show evidence of a past interactions between dwarfgalaxies and the Milky Way disk, presenting a wide field map of the resultingdebris. Together these efforts attempt to place the Local Group system of dwarfsin a cosmological context to yield an improved picture of their origin and evolution.

[发布机构] University of Michigan

[效力级别] Galaxy Evolution

[关键词] Dwarf Galaxies;Galaxy Evolution;Astronomy;Science;Astronomy and Astrophysics