Spitzer Space Telescope - Theoretical Research Proposal #20283


High-Redshift Galaxies in GOODS:  Simulations vs.  Observations

Principal Investigator: Romeel Dave
           Institution: University of Arizona

Co-Investigators: 
Kristian Finlator, University of Arizona                              

Science Category: high-z galaxies (z>0.5) 
Dollars Approved: 50877.0 

Abstract:
We propose to carry out detailed comparisons of cosmological
hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation versus Spitzer/IRAC and
HST/ACS observations of z~4 "B-dropout" galaxies in the Great
Observatories Origins Deep Survey.  The goals are to (1) Test whether
current simulations of galaxy formation produce results compatible
with high-redshift galaxy observations;  (2) Constrain model
parameters, particularly those associated with dust extinction and
galactic feedback;  and (3) Provide detailed interpretations of
observed broad-band colors in terms of galaxy physical properties such
as stellar mass and extinction within a self-consistent cosmological
scenario.  We will carry out the comparisons by "observing" simulated
galaxies through the appropriate broad band filters, computing each
galaxy's magnitudes from its star formation history using population
synthesis models.  From this, we will gain insights into the physical
processes that govern galaxy formation at these epochs, and provide a
baseline concordant model that can be used to compare simulations to a
wider range of observations such as galaxy clustering, redshift
evolution, extragalactic background light, and galaxy properties
observed at non-optical/NIR wavelengths.