Understanding the Nature of Dark Matter Halos and Galaxy Formation Through the Lens of the Milky Way

Fielder, Catherine (2022) Understanding the Nature of Dark Matter Halos and Galaxy Formation Through the Lens of the Milky Way. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The Universe is full of a zoo of galaxies that serve as beacons tracing the underlying structure of dark matter in the Universe. Galaxies exhibit a diverse array of structural properties and observed brightnesses, all of which provide clues to their evolution and the underlying structure of space. The galaxy in which we reside, the Milky Way, provides an exclusive opportunity for testing models of galaxy formation and cosmology courtesy of our proximity to the stars and dust that shape the Galaxy. Data-model comparisons of Milky Way observations to simulations, and observations of Milky Way-like galaxies are a compelling way to improve our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

However, we still currently lack insight into how the Milky Way fits in with the general galaxy population, an issue stemming from our location within the disk of the Milky Way. Dust blocks a large portion of our view of the Milky Way and we are unable to capture bulk integrated properties like we can for other galaxies. The focus of this thesis is on utilizing state-of-the-art statistical techniques and models to surpass these issue, addressing discrepancies in both simulations and observations, to improve our understanding of the Milky Way and how it connects to other galaxies as a means for answering questions on galaxy evolution.

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Details

Item Type:	University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Fielder, Catherine cef41@pitt.edu cef41 0000-0001-8245-779X
ETD Committee:	Title Member Email Address Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Newman, Jeffrey janewman@pitt.edu janewman 0000-0001-8684-2222 Committee Member Zentner, Andrew zentner@pitt.edu 0000-0002-6443-7186 Committee Member Bezanson, Rachel rachel.bezanson@pitt.edu 0000-0001-5063-8254 Committee Member Hatridge, Michael hatridge@pitt.edu Committee Member Walker, Matthew mgwalker@cmu.edu 0000-0003-2496-1925
Date:	30 September 2022
Date Type:	Publication
Defense Date:	29 July 2022
Approval Date:	30 September 2022
Submission Date:	27 July 2022
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages:	320
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Physics
Degree:	PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type:	Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Galaxy, Milky Way, fundamental parameters, structure, dark matter, halos, galaxy groups, numerical methods, data analysis, photometry, photometric techniques, properties
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2022 18:31
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2022 18:31
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43552

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• Understanding the Nature of Dark Matter Halos and Galaxy Formation Through the Lens of the Milky Way. (deposited 30 Sep 2022 18:31) [Currently Displayed]

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