Galaxy Evolution

The structure, dynamics, chemistry, and evolution of the Milky Way and other galaxies are analyzed by investigating the properties of their stellar populations and by constructing detailed models. Large international projects like RAVE, SDSS, and Pan-STARRS, in which the ARI participates, provide a significant part of the input data, supplemented by satellites like HST and Chandra or ground-based telescopes like ESO's VLT. The observational part is complemented by complex chemodynamical and cosmological simulations on state-of-the-art parallel and special purpose computers.

The Milky Way

• Solar neighbourhood
  • Nearby stars (H. Jahreiß)
  • Local density, vertical force, stellar halo (B. Fuchs, H. Jahreiß)
  • Dynamical heating, vertical profile, SFR, and IMF of the disc (A. Just, B. Fuchs)
• Global properties
  • White Dwarfs/Magnetic White Dwarfs (S. Jordan)
  • Halo Stars (B. Fuchs, C. Dettbarn)
  • Open clusters (S. Röser, E. Schilbach)
  • Structure and evolution of star clusters (R. Spurzem, E. Grebel)
  • Substructure and Galactic halo (E. Grebel)
  • Interaction with dwarf galaxies (A. Just, E. Grebel)

Galaxies

• Chemodynamical evolution models of galaxies (R. Spurzem, P. Berczik)
• Dwarf galaxies
  • Star clusters and nuclei (E. Grebel, T. Lisker)
  • Star formation histories and chemical evolution (E. Grebel, T. Lisker)
  • Structure and kinematics, dark matter content (E. Grebel)
  • Orbital decay and disruption of satellite galaxies (A. Just, R. Spurzem, E. Grebel)
  • Morphological classification schemes (T. Lisker)
• Spiral galaxies
  • Density wave theory of spiral arms (B. Fuchs)
  • Dynamical stability and evolution of discs (B. Fuchs, A. Just, C. Dettbarn)
  • Star formation history and dynamics of edge-on galaxies (A. Just)
  • Dark matter determination (B. Fuchs)
• Spiral structure and stability
  • Density wave theory of galactic spiral arms (B. Fuchs)
• Quasars
  • Time delays for gravitationally lensed quasars (J. Wambsganß)
  • Microlensing of quasars (J. Wambsganß)

Galaxy Groups and Clusters

• Galaxy census and luminosity functions (E. Grebel)
• Morphology, density, and environmental effects (E. Grebel, T. Lisker)
• Metallicity-luminosity relation and environment (E. Grebel)
• Color-magnitude relation and evolution (T. Lisker, E. Grebel)
• IGM temperature and metallicity (R. Schmidt)
• Dark halo mass and mass distribution (R. Schmidt, J. Wambsganss)
• Strong lensing and arcs (J. Wambsganss)
• Dark energy constraints (R. Schmidt)