Rhys Forster

(he/him)

BSc, MSc

Research

Research Interests

To be updated :)

Current Research

I am currently working on a project to compare the relationship between gas properties and star formation rate (SFR) across different timescales in the ISM of the galaxies observed in the KILOGAS data set. We will be constructing a parameter that is indicative of the change in SFR across 5 Myr and 800Myr timescales, as outlined in Wang and Lilly (2020). For each spaxel in an observed galaxy, our constructed parameter will be calibrated using three diagnostic values obtained from the KILOGAS data. We will calibrate using the equivalent widths of the Hα emission and the Hδ absorption lines, as well as the 4000Å break. We will then compare the parameter to the mass of gas present, and its properties. While we expect there to be a positive correlation between SFR and gas mass at the present day, changes in star formation rate in the past can hopefully be linked to the gas structure, and its properties. We will also investigate extending these comparisons further with more in-detail star formation histories derived from the IFU data.

Biography

Honours and awards

• MSc: Merit from Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
• BSc: Honours with Distinction from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, US.

Professional memberships

• American Society of Physics Students    2022 - Present
• Sigma Pi Sigma (ΣΠΣ), honours society for physics and astronomy    2021 - Present
• American Astronomical Society    2020 - Present
• American Physical Society    2020 - Present

Supervisors

Timothy Davis

Reader

Matthew Smith

Senior Lecturer
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology