The space between the galaxies is most of the volume of the Universe, and contains most of the dark matter and gas. That gas is readily observed in the spectra of quasars and its detailed properties contain a highly sensitive record of the main parameters of the Universe. This project will use a combination of observations and simulations to read that record, focusing on two key interrelated topics: the measurement of precise cosmological and astrophysical parameters, and the detection and measurement of the effects of energy flows from quasars and galaxies into the intergalactic gas. A large set of high resolution quasar spectra from the Keck observatory will be compared to various sophisticated simulations to study the amount of dark energy, the amplitude and slope of the power spectrum of matter on small scales, the ionization and temperature of the intergalactic gas, the intensity and spectrum of the ionizing radiation, and the energy input from quasars and galaxies, including the input and distribution of metals.
The broader impact of the work builds upon the team's long record of integrating education and diversity with their research. Past emphasis on under-represented groups will continue.
