Dwarf galaxies in context: connecting their physical and dynamical properties with the cosmic web

ongoing

The 'Λ + cold dark matter' (ΛCDM) model is the cornerstone of modern cosmology. It successfully predicts the emergence of the cosmic web; a vast, filamentary network comprising all matter in the Universe that drives the evolution of galaxies. However, recent JWST observations of low-mass dwarf galaxies from the early Universe challenge key predictions of galaxy formation models within the ΛCDM framework. This could signal a fundamental issue with ΛCDM or reflect that dwarf galaxies are currently poorly understood. Crucially, existing models overlook the impact of the cosmic web on dwarf galaxies, which are often studied in isolation despite their sensitivity to their environment. This risks misinterpreting observations and obstructing efforts to test ΛCDM rigorously. The primary objective of this project is to develop novel models encapsulating the impact of the cosmic web on the internal physical and dynamical properties of dwarf galaxies. With the rapid influx of new dwarf galaxy observations from flagship observatories, and the promise of orders of magnitude more data from upcoming next-generation facilities, developing these models is not just timely but critical. They will unlock the full potential of this transformative data and offer unparalleled insights into the fundamental processes shaping galaxies.