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QUASARS, CARBON, AND SUPERNOVAE: EXPLORING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ELEMENTS IN AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE

Vikas, Shailendra (2013) QUASARS, CARBON, AND SUPERNOVAE: EXPLORING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ELEMENTS IN AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This thesis consists of three different studies with common goal of understanding the constituents and structures of the universe.
The current understanding of galaxy formation is not complete. Cold and hot flows in the galaxies play role in evolution and transportation of elements within halo. Ionized carbon clouds are often observed in the spectrum of back-lighting quasars. I study the clustering properties of the triply ionized carbon clouds from SDSS-III data to determine the minimum mass of the host halo in which the galaxy formation processes produce such clouds. Apart
from enabling better understanding of these clouds, the result would help constrain galaxy formation theory and the associated feedback processes.
Standard cosmological theory produces an excess of baryonic structure compared to the observed one. Energetic quasars are often envisaged as the process which inject kinetic energy into the structures and halt the structure formation. I study the outflow in SDSS-III quasars through observed velocities of the triply ionized carbon clouds detected in their spectra. Using more accurate modeling of abundance of carbon clouds, I make robust conclusion about properties of outflow systems. Understanding velocities of such outflow helps constrain the amount of energy injected in the feedback process of quasars and helps in explaining the
observed baryonic structure of the Universe.
Supernovae Ia enable us to measure their distances at different redshifts. Distances enable us to infer the expansion history of the Universe and measure the current accelerated expansion. The equation-of-state parameter, w, of the dark energy responsible for this acceleration, can be determined from the expansion history. I estimate w using data form ESSENCE and other current supernova surveys and measure the effect of the important systematic uncertainties that are expected to have largest contribution to the uncertainty in our understanding of dark energy.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Vikas, Shailendraskv4@pitt.eduSKV4
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairWood-Vasey, Michaelwmwv@pitt.eduWMWV
Committee MemberNewman, Jefferyjeffrey.a.newman@gmail.com
Committee MemberZentner, Andrewzentner@pitt.eduZENTNER
Committee MemberPaolone, Vittoriopaolone@fnal.gov
Committee MemberCroft, Rupertrcroft@cmu.edu
Date: 2 July 2013
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 10 August 2012
Approval Date: 2 July 2013
Submission Date: 22 November 2012
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 169
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Astronomy
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Study of CIV systems supenova and quasars
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2013 15:59
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:07
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16556

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