Atomic Gas in Nearby Galaxies as a Cosmological Probe

Kristine Spekkens
RMC/Queen's University

Abstract

The atomic gas (HI) content of nearby galaxies provides important insight into how they form and evolve within the standard cosmology. In this talk, I will highlight some of my group's recent efforts to build statistical samples of HI disks to use as cosmological probes. I will first describe ongoing tensions between the structure of disk galaxies inferred from their rotation curves and predictions from cosmological simulations. I will then describe how the WALLABY widefield HI survey now underway on the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) will deliver population statistics to address these issues, and our progress on that front so far. This work paves the way for probing HI disks across cosmic time using the SKA telescope -- an international mega-science project in which Canada will soon be a full member -- when it comes online towards the end of this decade.

Timbits, coffee, tea will be served in STI A before the colloquium