PhD: Galaxy evolution from photometric redshifts

My PhD-project supervised by Prof. Dr. Uta Fritze and Prof. Dr. Elias Brinks deals with high-redshift galaxies. The aim is to use our group’s chemically consistent evolutionary synthesis GALEV code to compute a large grid of galaxy models of different hubble types, include bursts of various strengths and at different times to determine photometric redshifts for large galaxy samples from deep surveys, e.g. the Hubble (Ultra) Deep Fields. We will then derive these galaxies’ star formation and mass assembly histories to gain a deeper insight into the evolution of galaxies in the early universe.

Until now I have developed a new photometric redshift code GAZELLE, and successfully participated in the first stage of the “Photometric Accuracy Testing Project” (PI H. Hildebrandt). First tests and results look very promising and scientific results will become public shortly.

Results and Highlights so far

Accounting for subsolar metallicities as commonly found in both nearby low-mass galaxies and galaxies at high redshift is crucial for obtaining accurate and unbiased photometric redshifts. Relying on solar-metallicity templates only results in generally underestimated photometric redshifts and hence introduces systematic uncertainties into all subsequent analyses. –> Read more !
Mass functions from COSMOS, GOODS, and HUDF –> coming soon (expected Feb/Mar)
Built-up of Hubble Sequence galaxies –> coming soon (expected Mar/Apr)
Besides that I’m involved in a program studying the star cluster formation history of early-type galaxies (Es and S0s) by means of combined optical and near-infrared broad-band photometry.