Mapping Milky Way halo structure with blue horizontal branch stars
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Authors
Martin, Charles
Issue Date
2016-08
Type
Electronic thesis
Thesis
Thesis
Language
ENG
Keywords
Physics
Alternative Title
Abstract
The focus of this thesis is the mapping of substructure in the Milky Way Galaxy using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), in particular Blue Horizontal Branch stars (BHBs) and stars on the red giant branch. These bright stars are useful when mapping the spatial distribution and properties of gravitationally disrupted galaxies and globular clusters in the Milky Way. The bright absolute magnitude of these stars allows spectral observations of stars stretching out to about 75 kpc from the Sun. Using spectra of BHB stars we are able to kinematically distinguish moving groups and the spatial overdensities to which they belong. This is in turn useful in the fitting of an orbit and mapping mass distribution of the Milky Way.
Description
August 2016
School of Science
School of Science
Full Citation
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY