Star Formation Rates in High Star Formation Rates in High Redshift Galaxy ClustersRedshift Galaxy Clusters

By CMBy CM

High Redshift Galaxy ClustersHigh Redshift Galaxy Clusters

Clusters are areas that are highly dense within Clusters are areas that are highly dense within galaxiesgalaxies

Ancient galaxiesAncient galaxies Earliest star-forming galaxiesEarliest star-forming galaxies Formed around the time of the Big BangFormed around the time of the Big Bang High Redshift Galaxies are very far awayHigh Redshift Galaxies are very far away

How do we study these clusters?How do we study these clusters?

Spitzer Space Spitzer Space TelescopeTelescopeLaunched on August Launched on August

25, 200325, 2003Takes images of Takes images of

objects and far-off objects and far-off galaxiesgalaxies

Uses infrared lightUses infrared lightCryogenically-cooledCryogenically-cooled

Image taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope

Hubble TelescopeHubble Telescope

Uses mirrors to focus on Uses mirrors to focus on objectsobjects

Advanced camera for Advanced camera for surveyssurveys

Near-Infrared Camera Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object and Multi-Object SpectrometerSpectrometer

Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging SpectrometerImaging Spectrometer

Image taken by the Hubble Telescope

Star Formation RatesStar Formation Rates Rate at which stars form in galaxiesRate at which stars form in galaxies Many different types of star formationMany different types of star formation Stars cannot form everywhere. There are certain Stars cannot form everywhere. There are certain

requirements and standards that must be met in requirements and standards that must be met in the surrounding environment for stars to form.the surrounding environment for stars to form.

Because there are so many different ways that Because there are so many different ways that stars can form, there are a lot of equations that stars can form, there are a lot of equations that scientists use to determine specific star formation scientists use to determine specific star formation rates.rates.

How to Find Star Formation RatesHow to Find Star Formation Rates

Add up the light from the newly-formed starsAdd up the light from the newly-formed stars Add up light from the most massive stars and relate Add up light from the most massive stars and relate

them to the total amount of stars being formedthem to the total amount of stars being formed

IMF N=f(M)IMF N=f(M)

Why should we study High Redshift Why should we study High Redshift Galaxies and SFR?Galaxies and SFR?

Look into the pastLook into the past ““For the first time, we at last have real data to address For the first time, we at last have real data to address

the final frontier—but we need more observations. We the final frontier—but we need more observations. We must push even deeper into the universe, unveiling what must push even deeper into the universe, unveiling what happened during the initial 5 percent remaining distance happened during the initial 5 percent remaining distance back to the big bang.” back to the big bang.”

––Richard Ellis, California Institute of Richard Ellis, California Institute of TechnologyTechnology

After studying what has already happened in the After studying what has already happened in the universe, scientists will be better suited to predict universe, scientists will be better suited to predict what will be happening in our galaxy in the future.what will be happening in our galaxy in the future.

The End

BibliographyBibliography "High-Redshift Galaxies." 1999. 22 Aug. 2007 "High-Redshift Galaxies." 1999. 22 Aug. 2007

<http://astronomy.sussex.ac.uk/~iw21/highz>. <http://astronomy.sussex.ac.uk/~iw21/highz>. "Hubble Approaches the Final Frontier: the Dawn of Galaxies." "Hubble Approaches the Final Frontier: the Dawn of Galaxies." Hubble SiteHubble Site. .

22 Aug. 2007 22 Aug. 2007 <http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/28/text/>. <http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2004/28/text/>.

Keel, Bill. "Star Formation in Galaxies." Sept. 2000. 26 Aug. 2007 Keel, Bill. "Star Formation in Galaxies." Sept. 2000. 26 Aug. 2007 <http://www.astr.ua.edu/keel/galaxies/sfr.html>. <http://www.astr.ua.edu/keel/galaxies/sfr.html>.

"Spitzer Space Telescope Research Program for Teachers and Students: "Spitzer Space Telescope Research Program for Teachers and Students: Star Formation in High Redshift Clusters with Spitzer." Star Formation in High Redshift Clusters with Spitzer." Spitzer Space Spitzer Space TelescopeTelescope. 26 Aug. 2007 . 26 Aug. 2007 <http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/teacher_research/7-<http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/teacher_research/7-StarForm/index.shtml>. StarForm/index.shtml>.

"Star-Formation Criteria and Star-Formation Rates." 26 Aug. 2007 "Star-Formation Criteria and Star-Formation Rates." 26 Aug. 2007 <http://www-hpcc.astro.washington.edu/old_content/papers/neal/CSTreeSP<http://www-hpcc.astro.washington.edu/old_content/papers/neal/CSTreeSPH/node15.html>. H/node15.html>.