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Workshop / Seminar

Colloquium: Physics & Astronomy – Dr. Christina Williams

Webster Physical Science Building, Pullman, WA 99163
Webster Room 17
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About the event

The Department of Physics and Astronomy invites all to a colloquium featuring Dr. Christina Williams, Faculty Candidate. Dr. Williams will present their talk, “The view of early massive galaxies in the run up to JWST.”

Meet for refreshments before the lecture at 3:45 – 4:10 p.m. in the foyer on floor G above the lecture hall.

Abstract:

Our most powerful telescopes have glimpsed galaxies in their early growth phase only a few billion years after the Big Bang. Surprisingly, galaxy surveys show that the most massive galaxies in the Universe were formed the earliest in cosmic time, in an extreme but short-lived burst of star-formation. I will discuss my research into how massive galaxies form, and shed light on the unknown astrophysics that drives their extreme lives. Some of the most interesting and unexplored phases of galaxy evolution are hidden from our telescopes as a result of their limited sensitivity and wavelength coverage. After its launch, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will unveil the hidden physics of early galaxy growth for the first time.  I will show predictions for galaxy surveys planned for the first year of JWST, which will produce the deepest infrared imaging and spectroscopy ever taken. I will conclude by discussing how JWST can resolve many outstanding questions about the life cycle of massive galaxies.

 https://physics.wsu.edu/events/colloquium/

 

Contact

Physics and Astronomy kelley.bales@wsu.edu
(509) 335-1698