When did galaxies start forming STARS? What is the role of distant galaxies in galaxy formation models and the epoch of reionization? What are the conditions in typical low-mass, star-forming galaxies…

This federal contract award to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is a $299,733 grant for scientific research and was issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Shared Services Center. The contract is not associated with a larger contract vehicle and does not have a set-aside designation.

The grant supports a research program that aims to study galaxy formation and evolution, using gravitational lensing effects from 41 galaxy clusters observed through the RELICS (Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey) program. The research will leverage Spitzer Space Telescope data to measure properties like stellar masses, ages, and star formation rates of distant galaxies during the epoch of reionization. This supports NASA's scientific research goals related to understanding the early universe and galaxy formation processes. UC Davis, a public land-grant research university, has extensive experience conducting scientific research for federal agencies like NASA under prime contracts and subcontracts.

When did galaxies start forming STARS? What is the role of distant galaxies in galaxy formation models and the epoch of reionization? What are the conditions in typical low-mass, star-forming galaxies at z ~ 4? Why is galaxy evolution dependent on environment? To solve these puzzles of galaxy evolution, we will use 41 galaxy clusters from the relics program (reionization lensing cluster survey) that are among the most powerful cosmic telescopes. Their magnification will allow US to study stellar properties of a large number of galaxies all the way to the reionization ERA. Accurate knowledge of stellar masses, ages, and star formation rates (sfrs) requires measuring both rest-frame UV and optical light, which only spitzer can probe at z>0.5-11 for a sufficiently large sample of typical galaxies. This program will combine spitzer imaging from two large programs, director discretionary time (DDT) and the srelics program led by the PI. The main challenge in a study such as this is the capability to perform reliable photometry in crowded fields.