Physics PhD Thesis Defense: Stephanie O'Neil

NW17-218, Marlar Lounge (37-252)

You are cordially invited to attend the following thesis defense.’’Environmental Impacts on Simulated Galaxy Properties’’ Presented by Stephanie O'NeilDate: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Time: 11am Location: Marlar Lounge, #37-252Committee: Mark Vogelsberger, Michael A. McDonald, Erin A KaraBest of luck to Stephanie!Thesis Abstract: Galaxies in the Universe com in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Galaxies live within various structures and therefore receive different influences from their environment that alter their evolutionary pathways. In this thesis, I use galaxy formation simulations to study how we can use the distribution of galaxies to measure the size of a cluster and how these measurements change depending on the galaxy population. I demonstrate how common relationships between galaxy properties change depending on the environment of the galaxy. Finally, I introduce a new model for dark matter and show how it alters the structure of dark matter halos. These studies progress our understanding of how galaxy evolution processes work together with the environment within which the galaxies live to generate the population of galaxies we observe around us.