| Abstract: |
We have a robust conceptual framework for understanding the evolution of galaxies and supermassive black hole over the past 13 billion years. The most difficult challenge is understanding why all the most fundamental properties of galaxies (stelar mass, size, chemical composition, star-formation rate, and black hole mass) are so tightly coupled at any given epoch, yet evolve strongly with cosmic time. In current models, this is attributed to the process of “feedback”: the return of mass, momentum, energy, and heavy elements from populations of massive stars and actively growing supermassive black holes. In this talk, I will present measurements of the relationships between, and the cosmic evolution of, these key galaxy properties. I will describe the evidence for feedback from massive stars and black holes, and will then show the cases in which we can most clearly see the impact of this feedback on galaxies. |
