Doctoral defence in Physics - Kasper Elm Heintz

Ph.D. student: Kasper Elm Heintz

Dissertation title: Galaxies through Cosmic Time Illuminated by Gamma-Ray Bursts and Quasars

Opponents: Dr. J. Xavier Prochaska, Professor at the University of California Observatories (UCO) - Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz, USA
Dr. Valentina D'Odorico, Staff Researcher at INAF - Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Italy

Advisor: Dr. Páll Jakobsson, Professor at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland

Doctoral committee: 
Dr. Jesus Zavala Franco, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland
Dr. Einar H. Guðmundsson, Professor emeritus at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland

Chair of Ceremony: Dr. Oddur Ingólfsson, Professor and the head of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland

Abstract:

In the early Universe, most of the cold neutral gas that will later form into individual stars and galaxies is practically invisible to us. These neutral gas reservoirs can, however, be illuminated by bright cosmic lightsources such as gamma-ray bursts and quasars. In this study, I have used these luminous objects as tools to study galaxies through cosmic time.

About the doctoral candidate:

Kasper graduated with an M.Sc. degree in Astrophysics from the University of Copenhagen in 2016. He is married to Julie Elm Heintz and has one son.