10308(  1) - 04/02/04 11:35  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      10308
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 02-Apr-2004
                                                                      11:34:57

1.Proposal Title:
SLACR: The Simulation Lyman Alpha Comparison Repository
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle  4. Parallel Pointing Tolerance
AR               13        <none>
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5. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Prof. Romeel Dave                 University of Arizona

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6. Abstract

I propose to establish SLACR, the Simulation Lyman Alpha Comparison Repository.
SLACR is a publically-accessible full-service website containing the data and
software tools necessary to generate and analyze artificial Lyman alpha forest
spectra drawn from state-of-the-art cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. These
artificial spectra can be analyzed alongside ultraviolet quasar and AGN spectra
taken using e.g. HST/STIS, in order to (1) Test current theories of the IGM; (2)
Constrain the physical state of absorbing gas seen in quasar spectra; (3) Assess
biases and uncertainties due to sample incompleteness, continuum fitting, and Voigt
profile fitting; (4) Constrain physical and cosmological parameters of the IGM from
absorption line data; and (5) Study the relationship between IGM absorbers and
large-scale structure as traced by galaxies. SLACR will be an invaluable model
comparison and data interpretation tool for HST observers studying the Lyman alpha
forest, associated metal absorption systems, "missing baryons" and the warm-hot
intergalactic medium, and galaxy-absorber correlations.
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                                                10308(  1) - 04/02/04 11:35  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  10308

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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