Galaxy cosmology is a core branch of astronomy that explores the largest-scale structures and evolutionary history of the universe. Since its establishment in July 2023, the Zhejiang University Institute of Astronomy has identified galaxy cosmology as one of its four key research directions. It has gathered outstanding scholars in the field to form a strong research team. Led by Professor Kang Xi, Professor Renyue Cen, Research Professor Go Ogiya, and others, the team has developed a distinctive research profile characterized by deep integration of theory and computation, covering multiple critical phases of cosmic evolution.
Main Research Directions Include
Our research is grounded at the international forefront, with core topics closely centered on the formation and evolution of the universe and galaxies, including but not limited to the following three frameworks:
Formation and Early Evolution of Cosmic Structures
Focusing on key processes in the first billion years of the universe, including the physical mechanisms of cosmic reionization, the formation of the first galaxies and quasars and their impact on the surrounding intergalactic medium, and using probes like the Lyman-alpha forest and 21-cm signals to detect the state of the early universe.
Physical Drivers of Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Deeply investigating the core physical processes that shape galaxy morphology and destiny, with a focus on exploring the regulatory roles of supernova explosions and supermassive black hole feedback on galaxies and their environments, as well as the origins of special astrophysical systems like globular clusters.
Frontier Cosmological Theory and Numerical Simulations
Dedicated to developing innovative theoretical models and high-performance numerical simulation techniques to explore fundamental issues such as the cosmic missing baryons, the nature of dark matter, and large-scale cosmic structures, providing theoretical predictions and analytical tools for major observational projects.
Research Methods and Platform Support
Our team's research highly relies on the deep integration of theoretical modeling, high-performance computing, and multi-messenger observations. The institute's independently built Galaxy high-performance heterogeneous computing platform provides the core computational power support for conducting large-scale cosmological and galaxy formation numerical simulations. We use these tools to simulate the growth of cosmic structures and process massive data from large-scale sky surveys both domestically and internationally.
Scientific Goals and Societal Significance
Through research in galaxy cosmology, we aim to depict the complete evolutionary picture of the universe from the dark ages to its present-day structure, deeply understand the complex interactions of matter and energy within it, and cultivate top scientific research talents proficient in cutting-edge theories and computational tools. This work provides support for national strategic needs in fields such as space science and high-performance computing.
The Galaxy Cosmology team at the Zhejiang University Institute of Astronomy will continue to delve deeper into this exciting frontier. We look forward to collaborating with colleagues both in China and abroad to jointly uncover more mysteries of the universe.
