The First Galaxies in the Universe

Transcription

1 The First Galaxies in the Universe

2 Princeton Series in Astrophysics Edited by David N. Spergel Theory of Rotating Stars, by Jean-Louis Tassoul Theory of Stellar Pulsation, by John P. Cox Galactic Dynamics, Second Edition, by James Binney and Scott Tremaine Dynamical Evolution of Globular Clusters, by Lyman Spitzer, Jr. Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis: An Investigation of the History of Matter, from the Big Bang to the Present, by David Arnett Unsolved Problems in Astrophysics, edited by John N. Bahcall and Jeremiah P. Ostriker Galactic Astronomy, by James Binney and Michael Merrifield Active Galactic Nuclei: From the Central Black Hole to the Galactic Environment, by Julian H. Krolik Plasma Physics for Astrophysics, by Russell M. Kulsrud Electromagnetic Processes, by Robert J. Gould Conversations on Electric and Magnetic Fields in the Cosmos, by Eugene N. Parker High-Energy Astrophysics, by Fulvio Melia Stellar Spectral Classification, by Richard O. Gray and Christopher J. Corbally Exoplanet Atmospheres: Physical Processes, by Sara Seager Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium, by Bruce T. Draine The First Galaxies in the Universe, by Abraham Loeb and Steven R. Furlanetto

3 The First Galaxies in the Universe Abraham Loeb and Steven R. Furlanetto PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON AND OXFORD

4 Copyright c 2013 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, 6 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1TW press.princeton.edu Cover Photograph: Hubble Extra Deep Field. Courtesy of NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScl), and the HUDF Team. All Rights Reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Loeb, Abraham. The first galaxies in the universe / Abraham Loeb and Steven R. Furlanetto. p. cm. (Princeton series in astrophysics) Summary: "This book provides a comprehensive, self-contained introduction to one of the most exciting frontiers in astrophysics today: the quest to understand how the oldest and most distant galaxies in our universe first formed. Until now, most research on this question has been theoretical, but the next few years will bring about a new generation of large telescopes that promise to supply a flood of data about the infant universe during its first billion years after the big bang. This book bridges the gap between theory and observation. It is an invaluable reference for students and researchers on early galaxies. The First Galaxies in the Universe starts from basic physical principles before moving on to more advanced material. Topics include the gravitational growth of structure, the intergalactic medium, the formation and evolution of the first stars and black holes, feedback and galaxy evolution, reionization, 21-cm cosmology, and more. Provides a comprehensive introduction to this exciting frontier in astrophysics. Begins from first principles. Covers advanced topics such as the first stars and 21-cm cosmology. Prepares students for research using the next generation of large telescopes. Discusses many open questions to be explored in the coming decade Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN (hardback) ISBN (paper) 1. Galaxies Formation. 2. Stars Formation. 3. Cosmology. I. Furlanetto, Steven R. II. Title. QB857.5.E96L dc British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available This book has been composed in Scala Lf Printed on acid-free paper. Typeset by S R Nova Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, India Printed in the United States of America

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