Dr Joss Bland-Hawthorn (AAO)

Galactic Archaeology - Dr Joss Bland-Hawthorn Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The formation and evolution of galaxies is one of the great outstanding
problems of astrophysics. Within the broad context of hierachical
structure formation, we have only a crude picture of how galaxies like our
own came into existence. A detailed physical picture where individual
stellar populations can be associated with (tagged to) elements of the
protocloud is far beyond our current understanding. Important clues have
begun to emerge from both the Galaxy (near-field cosmology) and the high
redshift universe (far-field cosmology). Here we focus on the fossil
evidence provided by the Galaxy. Detailed studies of the Galaxy lie at the
core of understanding the complex processes involved in baryon
dissipation. This is a necessary first step towards achieving a successful
theory of galaxy formation.