Program: GN-2008A-Q-18

Title:Project DYNAMO: Dynamics of Newly Assembled Massive Objects
PI:Patrick McCarthy
Co-I(s): Roberto Abraham, Karl Glazebrook, Peter McGregor, Katherine Roth, David Crampton, Andy Green, Greg Poole, Sandra Savaglio, Erin Mentuch, Haojing Yan, Hsiao-Wen Chen, Raymond Carlberg, Inger Jorgensen, Stephanie Juneau, Preethi Nair

Abstract

We propose to use the new NIFS spectrograph with Laser Guide Star AO to continute our program of measuring the velocity fields of massive galaxies with 1.3 < z < 1.7, the peak of the galaxy mass building epoch. This will be the first sample of galaxies studied DYNAMICALLY at LGSAO resolution (~0.1") which is (a) significant in size (b) mass-selected and (c) at the critical assembly epoch. Our galaxies are selected from the Gemini Deep Deep Survey, as mass-selected sample with unprecedentedly deep spectroscopy. All targets are well characterized in mass, nebular line emission, ACS imaging and Spitzer photomety. With NIFS we will measure the Halpha velocity field and the dynamical mass. This will test assembly paradigms (LCDM vs LWDM) and direct measurements of stellar/dynamical mass ratios which will allow much more robust constraints to be placed on numerical simulations of galaxy formation and dynamical evolution.