Thesis

Polarimetric studies of galaxies

• Call:

  IDPASC Portugal - PHD Programme 2019

• Academic Year:

  2019 / 2020

• Domains:

  Cosmology | Astrophysics

• Supervisor:

  Santiago Gonzalez-Gaitan

• Co-Supervisor:

  Ana Mourão

• Institution:

  Instituto Superior Técnico

• Host Institution:

  Instituto Superior Técnico

• Abstract:

  Astronomical sources such as galaxies contain large amounts of dust that is essential in shaping their characteristics, their life cycle and their evolution, but that also affects the observations we take of them. The polarization state of the light helps us to extract valuable information about the dust grains that is not available using traditional intensity measurements. We propose to carry out a study of multi-band linear polarimetry of nearby galaxies observed with the instrument FORS2 at ESO-VLT in conjunction with state-of-the-art 3D radiative transfer models to elucidate the question of galaxy dust in an unprecentend way. The PhD student will develop skills in observation, reduction and analysis of polarimetric data as well as in modelling continuum radiation transfer in dusty environments of galaxies.