We aim to propel Australia to the forefront of astronomical research by combining Australia’s radio, optical and theoretical expertise to understand the origins of our Universe and the galaxies within
The most fundamental question in astrophysics – “how did we get here?” – has puzzled and inspired humanity to search for our origins for thousands of years. The question covers vast ground; from the Big Bang and the first stars that illuminated the Universe, to the diverse galaxies that surround us today. ASTRO 3D brings together world-class optical, radio and theoretical astrophysicists to answer the fundamental questions about our origins:
- What is the origin of matter and the periodic table elements?
- What is the origin of the ionising radiation in the Universe?
No one telescope or wavelength can answer these questions. This problem requires new panchromatic all-sky surveys that cover thousands of square degrees of sky to capture the light from hundreds of thousands of galaxies, and critically, requires 3D: the extra dimensions of time and motion are required in addition to the typical space or frequency dimensions of previous surveys.
ASTRO 3D is strategically fusing new 3D radio, optical and theoretical simulations with new supercomputing infrastructure to propel Australia to the forefront of astrophysical research for the coming decade.
During the infancy of the Universe, a watershed event dramatically changed the Universe from neutral and dark, to being almost completely ionised and transparent. This period, known as the Epoch of Reionisation is when the very first structures of the Universe formed. Despite its pivotal role, the Epoch of Reionisation is one of the least understood phases in the history of the Universe.
ASTRO 3D seeks to answer significant questions about the Epoch of Reionisation:
- What are the sources of reionisation – what first created such massive amounts of energy?
- When did the veil of the “cosmic dark ages” rise and how long did it take?
Tracing the distribution of matter from the earliest times in the Universe to the present day will help us build a 3D picture of the formation and evolution of the Universe that we see today.
- How did structures in the Universe grow out of matter, forming the building blocks of galaxies like our Milky Way?
- What forces have shaped the accumulation and motion of matter in the Universe across space and time?
Understanding how the chemical elements we have in the periodic table have evolved and developed over cosmic time will help us understand the birth of the first starts, the formation of the first galaxies and the evolution of galaxies like our Milky Way.
- How were the elements of the periodic table forged across space and time?
- How were they assembled into galaxies like our Milky Way?
- What did the first generation of stars and galaxies look like?
- Can we see ‘fossil records’ of those first stars today?
