rachel somerville -- research

the galaxies & cosmology theory group at MPIA

images created by P. Jonsson, based on simulations by T.J. Cox

Faculty & staff:
rachel somerville
Frank van den Bosch
Christian Fendt

Postdocs:
Christian Maulbetsch
Fabio Fontanot
Andrea Maccio
Xi Kang
Ramin Skibba

PhD Students:
Surhud More
Marcello Cacciato
Ros Skelton

Diploma students:
Ben Moster
Daniel Aquino

The interests of the theory group in Galaxies & Cosmology at the MPIA are closely connected with those of the observational group. We are especially interested in understanding how galaxies form and evolve, and what physical processes determine their observational properties. We use a number of different kinds of tools to explore these questions, including analytic and semi-analytic models, dissipationless N-body simulations, and hydrodynamic simulations. We are particularly concerned with translating the theoretical predictions into the 'observational plane', i.e., in making detailed and fair comparisons with observations at both low and high redshift. Some topics that we are actively researching include:

semi-analytic modelling of galaxy formation, including 'hybrid' (N-body + SAM) simulations
modelling the absorption and emission of light by dust in galaxies, using semi-analytic models and radiative transfer + hydro simulations (with P. Jonsson & J. Primack at UC Santa Cruz and T.J. Cox at the CfA)
pan-chromatic, quantitative comparisons of galaxy morphology, structural properties, and merger rates predicted by theory with deep surveys such as GEMS, GOODS, and DEEP
the formation of the first galaxies and quasars and their impact on the IGM
modelling the co-evolution of galaxies and AGN in a cosmological context
supernova feedback and outflows from galaxies
the structure and formation of disk galaxies and the angular momentum problem
the galaxy-dark matter connection: constraints on galaxy formation and cosmology using the Conditional Luminosity Function formalism (with H.-J. Mo and X. Yang at UMASS Amherst)
magnetohydrodynamic processes and the formation mechanism of magnetized astrophysical jets

Please see the individual research pages (van den Bosch, Somerville, Fendt) for more details.

Job Opportunities: Post-docs, PhD, and Diploma postitions