The IGM/Galaxy Connection

This book is a compilation of "The IGM/Galaxy Connection" conference proceedings and begins by examining the census of baryons in the local universe as a function of the states in which they reside (e.g., galaxies, the Lgammaalpha forest, and the hot intra-group gas) and how each of these components evolves with redshift. Galaxy formation funnels material into galaxies from the IGM through the galactic halo interface, while internal processes in the galaxies feed material back into the IGM. This book characterizes the halos around galaxies, and discusses the relics of the galaxy formation process from a theoretical perspective, followed by observational and theoretical analysis of the feedback mechanisms. The cosmic web describes the structure of the mass distribution. It consists of a network of filaments that are detected in absorption line studies as the IGM and of groups/clusters of galaxies which form where the filaments intersect. The final section of the book provides an overview of the cosmic web, including the relationship between the IGM and galaxies in the overdense regions of galaxy groups and clusters. This book is of interest to astronomers and graduate students studying the census of baryons in the local universe, the intergalactic medium, galaxy halos, galaxy formation and evolution, and large scale structure.