Characterizing Ionized Gas and HI properties of Nearby Galaxies

Project Description:

Optical emission lines can be used to determine the kinematics and properties of the ionized gas in galaxies. These can be used to study the star formation in the galaxy, motion of gas in the galaxy, the presence or absence of shocks and AGN, to detect the presence of different gas components and to understand the nature of the gas among other things. Atomic hydrogen (HI) traces the neutral gas in these galaxies, which is the fuel from which stars can eventually form from. We will be using SALT spectroscopic data to analyze the kinematics and other properties ionized gas of galaxies that have been observed by MeerKAT as a part of the MHONGOOSE HI survey. The results from this will be compared to the HI kinematics and properties from the MHONGOOSE HI and linked to the star formation in the galaxies. The project is fairly flexible depending on the strengths and interests of the students.

Research Area:

Astronomy

Project Level:

Honours

This Project Is Offered At The Following Node(s):

(UCT)(NWU)

Special Requirements:

The student needs to be comfortable using Python, interested in learning more of it and expanding their spectral analysis skillset.