Master Thesis # 3

WEAVE-StePS: exploring the first data 

SCIENTIFIC CONTEST

WEAVE is a new wide-field spectroscopic facility on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope in La Palma. WEAVE-StePS, one of its five extragalactic surveys, will observe ~25,000 galaxies at z ≥ 0.3 over a five-year period. Utilizing the WEAVE MOS with ~950 fibers across a 3 square deg field of view, the survey operates in low-resolution mode (R ~ 5000) covering the wavelength range between 3660 and 9590 Å to deliver high-quality spectra (S/N ~ 10/Å). Covering  an area of ~25 square deg, WEAVE-StePS aims to bridge the redshift gap between LEGA-C and SDSS, studying galaxies across diverse environments using ancillary X-ray, multi narrow band photometry, and spectroscopic data. The first data are now available, enabling initial quality assessments and exploration of their scientific potential.

THESIS OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this thesis is to perform an initial quality assessment and scientific analysis of the first data from the WEAVE-StePS survey, focusing on a sample of 700 galaxies with 7 hours of exposure time. Leveraging calibration observations collected during the scientific runs, (such as standard stars and sky spectra) the student will evaluate the overall spectral quality and reduction consistency. Following this assessment, a comprehensive spectral analysis will be conducted using pPXF (Penalized Pixel-Fitting), one of the most widely used full-spectral-fitting codes in the literature. This analysis will enable the classification of the sample into quiescent, star-forming, or green valley galaxies, as well as the measurement of the key physical parameters characterizing each evolutionary class.