The star-formation history of the Universe with the SKA
Abstract
Radio wavelengths offer the unique possibility of tracing the total star-formation rate in galaxies, both obscured and unobscured. As such, they may provide the most robust measurement of the star-formation history of the Universe. In this chapter we highlight the constraints that the SKA can place on the evolution of the star-formation history of the Universe, the survey area required to overcome sample variance, the spatial resolution requirements, along with the multi-wavelength ancillary data that will play a major role in maximising the scientific promise of the SKA. The required combination of depth and resolution means that a survey to trace the star formation in the Universe should be carried out with a facility that has a resolution of at least ~0.5arcsec, with high sensitivity at < 1 GHz. We also suggest a strategy that will enable new parameter space to be explored as the SKA expands over the coming decade.
- Publication:
-
Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array (AASKA14)
- Pub Date:
- April 2015
- DOI:
- 10.22323/1.215.0068
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1412.5753
- Bibcode:
- 2015aska.confE..68J
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 19 pages, to appear as part of 'Continuum Science' in Proceedings 'Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA (AASKA14)068'