PMAS observing campaign at Calar Alto 3.5m Telescope "Initial conditions for Lyman-alpha radiative transfer in galaxies"

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Matthias Roth
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2017 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 376489717

Ly-alpha is a prime target in high-z surveys studying cosmology and galaxy formation, but Ly-alpha radiation transfer physics complicate the interpretation of those samples. We already demonstrated that PMAS H-alpha kinematic maps in concert with UV imaging-, UV spectroscopy and 21cm HI observations are vital to build a coherent empirical picture of Ly-alpha radiative transfer in galaxies. Spectrophotometry of galaxies in H-alpha trace directly the intrinsic Ly-alpha radiation field and thus constrain the initial conditions of the Ly-alpha radiative transfer. We are planning to complete our PMAS observational campaign of the Extended Ly-alpha Reference Sample - a legacy survey of 28 coherently selected nearby laboratory galaxies imaged with HST in Ly-alpha by observing the remaining 10 galaxies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants