[KSCI] Korea Science Citation Index Service

http://dx.doi.org/10.5303/PKAS.2010.25.3.053

SOME CURRENT ISSUES IN GALAXY FORMATION

Silk, Joseph (Beecroft Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Department of Physics, University of Oxford)

Publication Information

Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society / v.25, no.3, 2010 , pp. 53-58 More about this Journal

Abstract

The origin of the galaxies represents an important focus of current cosmological research, both observational and theoretical. Its resolution involves a comprehensive understanding of star formation and evolution, galaxy dynamics, supermassive black holes, and the cosmology of the very early universe. In this paper, I will review our current understanding of galaxy formation and review some of the challenges that lie ahead. Specific issues that I address include the galaxy luminosity function, feedback by supernovae and by AGN, and downsizing. I argue that current evidence favours two distinct modes of star formation in the early universe, in order to account for the origin of disk and massive spheroidal galaxies. However perhaps the most urgent need is for a robust theory of star formation.

Keywords

galaxies: formation; galaxies: evolution; cosmology: theory; stars: formation;

Citations & Related Records

Reference

1	Koposov, S., et al., 2009, A Quantitative Explanation of the Observed Population of Milky Way Satellite Galaxies, ApJ, 696, 2179 DOI
2	Kormendy, J. & Tremaine, S., private communication
3	Krumholz, M. & Tan, J., 2007, Slow Star Formation in Dense Gas: Evidence and Implications, ApJ, 654, 304 DOI
4	Silk, J. & Norman, C., 2009, Global Star Formation Revisited, ApJ, 700, 262 DOI
5	Silk, J. & Nusser, A., 2010, Momentum-Driven Winds and Positive AGN Feedback, MNRAS, submitted, arXiv:1004.0875
6	Anderson, M. & Bregman, J., 2010, Do Hot Halos Around Galaxies Contain the Missing Baryons?, ApJ, 714, 320 DOI
7	Antonuccio-Deloglu, V. & Silk, J., 2010, Active Galactic Nuclei Activity: Self-Regulation from Backflow, MNRAS, 405, 1303
8	Genzel, R., et al., 2010, A Study of the Gas-Star Formation Relation over Cosmic Time, MNRAS, submitted, arXiv:1003.5180
9	Gnat, O. & Sternberg, A., 2007, Time-Dependent Ionization in Radiatively Cooling Gas, ApJS, 168, 213 DOI
10	Gonzalez, V., et al., 2010, The Stellar Mass Density and Specific Star Formation Rate of the Universe at z - 7, ApJ, 713, 115 DOI