Risa Wechsler has developed a new tool for measuring how galaxy interactions, such as that which drew out the trail of stars in the Tadpole Galaxy (pictured here), affect the rate of star formation.

Exposing the Nature of Cosmic Liaisons

by Elizabeth Buchen

Risa Wechsler of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) and her collaborators have devised a powerful technique to study how interactions between galaxies affect star formation. Their results shed light on the fundamental processes that drive galactic evolution.

In the early universe, the rate of star formation was higher than it is today. Galaxies frequently collided and coalesced with one another, spawning a profusion of new stars with each encounter. Although such prolific events are now relatively infrequent, less spectacular galactic interactions continue to forge stars and shape galaxies. Observational studies suggest that even these interactions increase the rate of star formation, but there is little consensus on the frequency and magnitude of such events.

"To study this, you need to observe pairs of galaxies, which have either just interacted or are about to interact, and determine whether their star formation rate is higher or lower than similar galaxies that haven't interacted," said Wechsler, who collaborated with researchers from the Center for Cosmology at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Chicago. Although the idea is straightforward, its execution is problematic. Galaxy interactions are highly complex and dynamic, and observation yields a mere snapshot of the unfolding events. Read more...

Mega-masers,
Dark Energy and the Hubble Constant

by Fred Lo

Powerful emissions called "water mega-masers" can be found in accretion disks in the nuclei of some galaxies. Besides providing a measure of the mass at the nucleus, such mega-masers can be used to determine the distance to the host galaxy, based on a kinematic model.

In this afternoon's colloquium, Fred Lo of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will explain the importance of determining the Hubble Constant to high accuracy for constraining the equation of state of Dark Energy and describe the Mega-maser Cosmology Project that has the goal of determining the Hubble Constant to better than 3%.

Time permitting, Lo will also present the scientific capabilities of the current and future NRAO facilities for addressing key astrophysical problems.

The colloquium will take place at 4:15 p.m. today in Panofsky Auditorium. All are invited to attend.

SLAC Walk and Run Scheduled for Nov. 15

by Amber Dance

The 2006 SLAC Run.
(Click on image for larger version.)

On November 15, more than particles will be speeding along SLAC's linear accelerator. Both sprinters and amblers will travel up and down the Klystron Gallery, taking part in a 36-year old laboratory tradition, the SLAC Run and Walk.

In 2006, event planners had to scramble to make the event happen when construction blocked the normal route. "This year, things are looking up," said Race Committee Member Ruth McDunn.

Runners are back on the usual 3.8-mile track, and top finishers will receive prizes. The noncompetitive walk event covers a two-mile course.

Registration starts at 11:45 a.m., on the north side of the Klystron Gallery at Sector 30.

Every year the committee designs an event t-shirt that incorporates current events at SLAC. The 2007 shirt illustrates construction of the Linac Coherent Light Source and is a light ash gray. Shirts are $12 each.

T-shirts will be available at the race event, but McDunn recommended that those who want a small, medium, or XXL size pre-order as those shirts are often in limited supply.

More information is available at the SLAC Run and Walk website.

Events (see all | submit)

October 15: (4:15 p.m.) SLAC Colloquium: Dr. Fred Lo: Mega-masers, Dark Energy and the Hubble Constant
October 15: (5:30 p.m.) Stanford Lecture: Nuclear Power without Nuclear Proliferation?

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Community Bulletin Board

News (see all | submit)

Neutrino Probe Goes Under the Ground China Daily
The Great Cosmic Roller-Coaster Ride Scientific American

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %>

View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.

Risa Wechsler has developed a new tool for measuring how galaxy interactions, such as that which drew out the trail of stars in the Tadpole Galaxy (pictured here), affect the rate of star formation. Exposing the Nature of Cosmic Liaisons by Elizabeth Buchen Risa Wechsler of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) and her collaborators have devised a powerful technique to study how interactions between galaxies affect star formation. Their results shed light on the fundamental processes that drive galactic evolution. In the early universe, the rate of star formation was higher than it is today. Galaxies frequently collided and coalesced with one another, spawning a profusion of new stars with each encounter. Although such prolific events are now relatively infrequent, less spectacular galactic interactions continue to forge stars and shape galaxies. Observational studies suggest that even these interactions increase the rate of star formation, but there is little consensus on the frequency and magnitude of such events. "To study this, you need to observe pairs of galaxies, which have either just interacted or are about to interact, and determine whether their star formation rate is higher or lower than similar galaxies that haven't interacted," said Wechsler, who collaborated with researchers from the Center for Cosmology at the University of California in Irvine and the University of Chicago. Although the idea is straightforward, its execution is problematic. Galaxy interactions are highly complex and dynamic, and observation yields a mere snapshot of the unfolding events. Read more...

Mega-masers, Dark Energy and the Hubble Constant by Fred Lo Powerful emissions called "water mega-masers" can be found in accretion disks in the nuclei of some galaxies. Besides providing a measure of the mass at the nucleus, such mega-masers can be used to determine the distance to the host galaxy, based on a kinematic model. In this afternoon's colloquium, Fred Lo of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will explain the importance of determining the Hubble Constant to high accuracy for constraining the equation of state of Dark Energy and describe the Mega-maser Cosmology Project that has the goal of determining the Hubble Constant to better than 3%. Time permitting, Lo will also present the scientific capabilities of the current and future NRAO facilities for addressing key astrophysical problems. The colloquium will take place at 4:15 p.m. today in Panofsky Auditorium. All are invited to attend.	SLAC Walk and Run Scheduled for Nov. 15 by Amber Dance The 2006 SLAC Run. (Click on image for larger version.) On November 15, more than particles will be speeding along SLAC's linear accelerator. Both sprinters and amblers will travel up and down the Klystron Gallery, taking part in a 36-year old laboratory tradition, the SLAC Run and Walk. In 2006, event planners had to scramble to make the event happen when construction blocked the normal route. "This year, things are looking up," said Race Committee Member Ruth McDunn. Runners are back on the usual 3.8-mile track, and top finishers will receive prizes. The noncompetitive walk event covers a two-mile course. Registration starts at 11:45 a.m., on the north side of the Klystron Gallery at Sector 30. Every year the committee designs an event t-shirt that incorporates current events at SLAC. The 2007 shirt illustrates construction of the Linac Coherent Light Source and is a light ash gray. Shirts are $12 each. T-shirts will be available at the race event, but McDunn recommended that those who want a small, medium, or XXL size pre-order as those shirts are often in limited supply. More information is available at the SLAC Run and Walk website.	Events (see all \| submit) October 15: (4:15 p.m.) SLAC Colloquium: Dr. Fred Lo: Mega-masers, Dark Energy and the Hubble Constant October 15: (5:30 p.m.) Stanford Lecture: Nuclear Power without Nuclear Proliferation? Access (see all) Increased traffic along north linac road, Sept. 18 - mid-Dec. Periodic closure of South Klystron Gallery Road Parking lot between B120 and B140 closed Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7 Research Yard bisected Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Submit your stories about Pief Community Bulletin Board Faculty Staff Help Center: October 2007 Workshops 36th annual SLAC Run and Walk, noon, November 15, 2007 News (see all \| submit) Neutrino Probe Goes Under the Ground China Daily The Great Cosmic Roller-Coaster Ride Scientific American
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<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %> View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.