A. Prof. Glenn Kacprzak
My research is focused on understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies by studying the connection between extended halo gas and the host galaxy using the bright light from distant background quasars (QSOs). The QSOs, acting as a flashlight, shine through these halos, where the gas interacts with the light and produces absorption features. Virtually all types of galaxies are observed to prominently absorb the Mg II 2796, 2803 doublet.
By studying the absorption signatures of the gas, we can study halo kinematics, dynamics, chemical content, ionization conditions and cosmic evolution back to half the current age of the universe and out to projected galactocentric radii of several 100~kpc. High resolution imaging of these galaxies allows for a direct comparison between the gas properties as measured from quasar spectra and the galaxy luminous properties. It is these galaxy-absorber pairs which provide deeper insight into the role of gas in galaxy evolution and provide direct observational constraints on competing scenarios which aim to establish the role of gas in galaxy formation.
| Phone | +61 3 9214 5439 | |
| Office | AR 307 | |
| Personal Webpage | https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/~gkacprzak/ |