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Kirsten_Casey_Dissertation.pdf (29.77 MB)

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Surface Brightness Fluctuations of Low-Mass Galaxies in the Local Volume

Casey, Kirsten Justine
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2991-9251
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700559365278677

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Physics.
Low-mass galaxies provide an exciting opportunity to learn about many open questions in astronomy, including topics as seemingly disparate as galaxy formation and evolution and the particle nature of dark matter. To take full advantage of these galaxies however, we must devote energy to understanding the basics about their mass and environment. Traditionally this requires distance measurements that use expensive space-based imaging or spectra. An alternative approach is to exploit the discrete nature of galaxy stellar populations to measure so called surface brightness fluctuations (SBF), which change as a function of distance. SBF can provide accurate distances to galaxies without the stringent observational requirements necessary for other distance techniques and often without the need for extensive follow-up data after discovery. Given the huge number of low-mass galaxies being discovered in recent surveys and the upcoming deep imaging observatories that will undoubtedly uncover even more such galaxies, SBF offers a promising solution to obtaining distances to a revolutionary sample of these fascinating systems. In this dissertation, I develop an image processing pipeline with the goal of measuring SBF distances to dwarf galaxies with the Large Binocular Telescope. First, I demonstrate the technique with a quenched galaxy called Blobby in the outskirts of the M81 group. I use the measured distance to argue that Blobby is part of an understudied population of galaxies called backsplash galaxies, and that its mass and stellar population have likely been significantly affected by a past interaction with the group. Next, I measure the SBF of several other Local Volume galaxies, some with widely respected tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) distance measurements. I demonstrate that SBF is competitive with other distance methods and confirm (or reject) associations of dwarfs in the sample with several host galaxies. I discuss challenges with the SBF method, particularly with regard to blue star-forming galaxies, but argue that it nevertheless provides an important tool in the quest to understand galaxy evolution, galaxy interactions, and dark matter.
Annika Peter (Advisor)
Klaus Honscheid (Committee Member)
Linda Carpenter (Committee Member)
Todd Thompson (Committee Member)
166 p.
Astronomy; Astrophysics; Physics
surface brightness fluctuations; SBF; galaxy distances; Local Volume; low-mass galaxies; dwarf galaxies

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Casey, K. J. (2023). Surface Brightness Fluctuations of Low-Mass Galaxies in the Local Volume [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700559365278677

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Casey, Kirsten. Surface Brightness Fluctuations of Low-Mass Galaxies in the Local Volume. 2023. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700559365278677.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Casey, Kirsten. "Surface Brightness Fluctuations of Low-Mass Galaxies in the Local Volume." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700559365278677

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1700559365278677
39
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.