PAMS Seminar: "An X-ray Perspective on the Evolution of Galaxies Throughout the Universe" by Dr. Bret Lehmer

Dr. Bret Lehmer
University of Arkansas
Department of Physics

Abstract:

Multiwavelength studies of galaxies in the Universe, from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths, have been extremely effective at piecing together a basic picture of how populations of stars evolved throughout cosmic history.  At X-ray wavelengths, galaxy emission is dominated by hot gas and populations of X-ray binaries, the latter of which consist of black holes and neutron stars accreting material from stellar companions.  Using X-ray and multiwavelength observations of nearby and distant galaxies (e.g., from Chandra, GALEX, Hubble, NuSTAR, Spitzer, Herschel, and other observatories), we are developing an empirical framework detailing how X-ray binary populations and their host galaxies evolved together over the last 12 billion years (~90%) of cosmic history.  In this talk, I will describe some of the exciting new insights from our work, and I will highlight how new data sets, future observational facilities, and improved theoretical modeling will continue to improve our understanding of X-ray binaries, compact objects, and galaxies.

Free