Galaxy Evolution in a Low Surface Brightness Universe

The faint, diffuse, low surface brightness universe has to-date generally only been observed in specialised surveys like VEGAS. These surveys have revealed the wealth of information about galaxy evolution available from these data. Tidal features around galaxies (faint shells, tidal tails, halos and stellar streams) call tell us about their recent merging history and intracluster light (diffuse, extended stellar light observed to spread across the centre of galaxy clusters) provides a holistic trace of the emerging history in the galaxy cluster environment. The 8.4m Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will revolutionise low surface brightness astronomy when it starts in 2025. The deep, multi-band, optical observations over the whole southern sky will transform our understanding of galaxy evolution, particularly by opening up the low surface brightness universe with enormous samples. I will present the LSST survey and my group’s research using Hyper-Suprime Cam Subaru Strategic Project imaging and cosmological hydrodynamical observations to prepare for tidal feature and intracluster light research with LSST.