PI G. Hütsi, until 31.05.2015 E. Saar
We will follow the formation of structure in the Universe at different scales (galaxies, galaxy groups, clusters, filaments, etc.) and will clarify the relations between processes at different scales. The work will consist of the following steps: 1) detecting and quantifying the properties of the largest structures in the Universe; 2) using structural models for quantifying the properties of large galaxy samples and finding correlations between the derived parameters with the local and large-scale environment in the nearby and distant Universe; 3) detailed modelling of our Galaxy and nearby galaxies in order to understand their formation and their place within the local large-scale environment. We will use existing observational databases (SDSS, CALIFA, HST, GOODS, Planck, Herschel SO), new data that will become available (Gaia, eROSITA, ALMA) and will develop methods for future data (EUCLID). We will also plan for dedicated observational programs and will run necessary simulations.
Start date: 1.1.2014End date: 31.12.2019
Total amount: 1 728 000 € (financer Estonian Research Council)
Estonian Research Information System webpage
PI I. Kolka
Massive stars are main sources of energy and recycled matter to drive the evolution of galaxies. The course of stellar evolution of massive stars is uncertain, imprinting uncertainties to stellar population synthesis and galactic evolution models. The least understood processes are e.g. core convective overshooting, internal differential rotation, transport of angular momentum, and mass loss. These processes, however, control the evolution of stars. The internal structure and ongoing processes express themselves in the (strong) stellar variabilities. These are the only quantities that can be obtained observationally. The proposed research aims to uncover the relationship between the evolutionary phase and variability patterns of massive stars, to obtain new observational constraints which can be used to improve structural and evolutionary models. For new estimates on fundamental parameters of the stars and their circumstellar environments, the data from the Gaia mission will be essential.
Start date: 1.1.2015End date: 31.12.2020
Total amount: 250 000 € (financer Estonian Research Council)
PI E. Tempel
Galactic filaments are the most stringent structures found in nature, containing nearly half of the mass of the Universe. This proposal concentrates to the quantification of the galactic filaments. For the filament identification we will use a novel probability-based filament finder, the Bisous model. Further development of the model would potentially give us a supreme structure finder for observational datasets that can be adapted to detect structures with any morphologies. Filaments (their shape, connectivity, concentration etc) identified in galaxy surveys are a potentially rich source of astrophysical and cosmological information. We will use the filaments to study the nature of structure formation and dark energy, as well the impact of filaments on formation and evolution of galaxies with them. We will take advantage of the latest observational datasets and we will use numerical simulations to study the cosmological and astrophysical implications of filaments in the cosmic web.
Total amount: 500 000 € (financer Estonian Research Council)