Cosmology and Galaxy Formation

Cosmology and Fundamental Physics

Research interests in Cosmology and Fundamental Physics at the Institute of Astronomy cover a wide array of physical phenomena, spanning a large range of astrophysical scales and epochs – from the present day properties of the Universe going back in time to the surface of  last scattering and the Planck scale era.

In order to study these complex and non-linear physical phenomena with the highest possible realism, researchers are using sophisticated numerical codes and taking advantage of high performance super-computer facilities available locally, such as the UK National Cosmology Supercomputer (COSMOS), and the Computing Cluster Darwin, one of the largest academic supercomputers in the UK.

Research Topics

Cosmic Reionisation

Cosmology research focuses exclusively on unravelling the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy and cosmic background radiation. Through the use of advanced state-of-the-art telescopes and cosmological simulations, this field seeks to understand how these fundamental components have influenced the evolution of the universe from its earliest minutes to its present state. These studies are essential for building a coherent picture of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and for forecasting future changes in its expansion and structure.

Galaxy Formation and Evolution

This field addresses how galaxies have formed and evolved from the earliest epochs of the universe to the present day. Using both detailed observations and simulations on supercomputers, such as Geryon 3, the characteristics and processes of nearby and diffuse galaxies, including giant low surface brightness spirals, are investigated. The integration of observational data with advanced modelling allows researchers to explore the physical mechanisms that affect the development and maturation of galaxies in different cosmic contexts.