Project area/s
- Computation/Theory, Galaxy Formation, Cosmology
Project Details
One of the greatest challenges to the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) paradigm over the last two decades was the Missing Satellite Problem. Gravity-only numerical simulations predicted every massive dark matter halo should be surrounded by an abun-dance of smaller satellite halos. Meanwhile, only a few dozen satellite galaxies can be found around the Milky Way and Andromeda. While this discrepancy has largely been solved by explicitly modelling baryonic physics alongside dark matter, identification of faint satellites to massive galaxies remains challenging – but nonetheless dangles the reward of constraining the physics of low-mass galaxy formation and as a test of the CDM paradigm.
The project lead will first use carefully constructed mock images and ICRAR’s in-house protools software to examine the limits of satellite galaxy detection. Then, they will apply their calibrated pipeline to real galaxies to measure satellite counting statistics which can be compared against theoretical models.
Student Attributes
Academic Background
Physics / Astronomy
Computing Skills
Basic: some python; R experience useful but not required
Training Requirement
Array jobs, embarrassingly parallel multi-processing
Project Timeline
| Week 1 | Inductions and project introduction |
| Week 2 | Initial presentation |
| Week 3 | ProFound I – example case |
| Week 4 | ProFound II – more examples |
| Week 5 | ProFound III – satellite counts/intensities |
| Week 6 | Parallelization of ProFound pipeline |
| Week 7 | Application of ProFound pipeline to large mock sample |
| Week 8 | Analysis of completeness/purity of satellite detection |
| Week 9 | Final presentation |
| Week 10 | Final report |
