Monday, April 27, 2009 Joint Physics Colloquium, 4:30 PM, 102 Thaw Hall, PITT

Jane Charlton

Penn State University

"Seeing the Universe Through Shadows"

Abstract:

I will present several insights into the evolution of the gaseous content of the universe, as determined through quasar absorption line studies. A variety of environments can be probed through absorption in the MgII doublet. Traced by MgII absorption ranging from strong to weak, these environments include galactic superwinds, star forming regions, galaxies of all morphological types, gas involved in feedback processes, and high velocity clouds around other galaxies, analogous to those seen around the Milky Way. I will summarize what is known about the environments of MgII absorbers and about their properties, and connect with more global issues relating to galaxy evolution. I will include discussion of numerous high metallicity parsec-sized pockets that exist in the halos of galaxies and of a very puzzling object that seems to be a "bare molecular cloud".