THE CAASTRO TEAM IS PURSUING THREE INTERLINKED SCIENCE PROGRAMS: THE EVOLVING UNIVERSE When did the first galaxies form,

1. The Centre for All-sky Astrophysics THE CAASTRO TEAM IS PURSUING THREE INTERLINKED SCIENCE PROGRAMS: THE EVOLVING UNIVERSE When did the first galaxies form, and how have they then evolved? CAASTRO is working to provide two crucial new views of how gas, stars and galaxies have evolved over cosmic time. First, we are searching for and studying the faint radio signal from the “Epoch of Reionisation”, the period when stars, galaxies and quasars ionised the entire Universe. Second, we are aiming to measure the stellar and neutral hydrogen content of 500,000 galaxies spanning the last eight billion years, thus allowing us to discriminate between competing theories of galaxy formation. THE DYNAMIC UNIVERSE What is the high-energy physics that drives rapid change in the Universe? The Universe is a changing and violent place. What is the high-energy physics that drives this change? In CAASTRO, we are carrying out the first all-sky census of the variable and transient sky coordinated between both radio and optical wavelengths. These experiments are allowing us to study the changing sky over a wider field of view, at higher sensitivity and over a wider range of time scales than has ever previously been possible. Our studies of the Dynamic Universe aim to provide crucial new probes of extreme conditions in the cosmos and, more broadly, are allowing us to develop innovative approaches to finding weak signals in large data sets. THE DARK UNIVERSE What are the Dark Energy and Dark Matter that dominate the cosmos? Over the past decade, astronomers have arrived at the uncomfortable conclusion that 96% of the Universe is made up of two separate as-yet-unexplained phenomena: “Dark Energy” and “Dark Matter”. But what are Dark Energy and Dark Matter? In CAASTRO we are performing a set of innovative measurements to probe the role of Dark Energy over most of cosmic time, and to generate a map of Dark Matter on the largest scales ever performed. We aim to use our observations to test Einstein’s theory of gravity in the weak field regime, to test whether Cold Dark Matter behaves as predicted, and to determine whether structure in the Universe is growing as expected for a Universe filled with Dark Energy in the form of a cosmological constant. Graham Allen, CSIRO A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THE SKY The unsolved questions in astronomy demand entirely new approaches, requiring enormous data sets covering the entire sky. In the last few years, Australia has invested more than $400 million both in innovative wide-field telescopes and in the powerful computers needed to process the resulting torrents of data. Using these new tools, Australia now has the chance to establish itself at the vanguard of the upcoming information revolution centred on all-sky astrophysics. The ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) aims to be the international leader in wide-field astronomy. In CAASTRO, we are answering fundamental questions about the nature of the Universe, developing innovative ways of processing huge data sets, and enabling a diverse set of opportunities for students and early career researchers. All CAASTRO activities are underpinned by a strong focus on training the next generation of scientists. In CAASTRO, we aim to mentor and inspire the students who will lead the scientific discoveries made on future wide-field facilities, culminating in the ultimate all-sky telescope, the Square Kilometre Array. CAASTRO is receiving more than A$29M in funding over the period 2011-2018. CAASTRO is led by The University of Sydney, in conjunction with the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Swinburne University, complemented by a group of world-class Australian and international partners. Swinburne University Stuart Wyithe CAASTRO PEOPLE AND PARTNERS: Director: Bryan Gaensler (U. Sydney) Deputy Director: Lister Staveley-Smith (UWA) Outreach Leader: Steven Tingay (Curtin) COO: Kate Gunn (U. Sydney) Evolving Theme Leader: Stuart Wyithe (U. Melb) Dynamic Theme Leader: Matthew Bailes (Swinburne) Dark Theme Leader: Brian Schmidt (ANU) MartynPearce, ANU Media Other Partner Organisations Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) California Institute of Technology University of Arizona University of Oxford University of Durham Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy Max-Planck Institute for Astrophysics Laboratoirede Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Energies University of Toronto For more information, visit www.caastro.org