This Hubble Space Telescope mosaic shows a portion of the immense Coma galaxy cluster -- containing more than 1,000 galaxies -- located 300 million light-years away. The rapid motion of its galaxies was the first clue that dark matter existed.   Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Mack (STScI) and J. Madrid (Australian Telescope National Facility)

More than 90% of the cosmic baryons reside beyond the luminous boundaries of galaxies in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and intergalactic medium (IGM). Galaxies accrete baryons from the CGM and IGM and grow with time by converting them into stars. The heavy elements produced inside galaxies are again thrown into the CGM and IGM via stellar/active galactic nuclei feedback. Such interactions between galaxies and the CGM and IGM dictate their evolution. Mapping the distribution of cosmic baryons in the CGM and IGM and characterizing their physical properties are thus essential for a comprehensive understanding of galaxy evolution.

Owing to their tenuous nature, the bulk of the baryons in the CGM and IGM are not directly observable in emission. Quasar absorption line spectroscopy paved the way to probe these diffuse baryons. With the advent of sensitive Integral Field Spectrographs (IFS), it is now possible to directly trace the baryons in the relatively denser regions of the CGM and IGM. All such observations posed significant challenges for the simulators. In particular, it has been found that galaxy evolution models that are calibrated to match galaxy properties fail to reproduce CGM properties. The task of achieving the large dynamic range and high spatial resolution necessary to encompass the full range of physical processes presents a formidable challenge.

The primary objective of this conference is to bring together the leading experts and emerging researchers committed to investigating the diffuse baryons in the Circumgalactic Medium (CGM) and Intergalactic Medium (IGM) using various observational techniques and hydrodynamical simulations. Together, we aim to conduct a comprehensive review of the advancements achieved in this field over the past two decades and chart a course for its future developments in the coming years.

Key Questions:

1. What have we learned about the physical conditions, chemical enrichment, and kinematics of the diffuse baryons beyond galactic boundaries in the past two decades? How do these properties evolve with time and the environment?


2. Have CGM studies truly fulfilled the promise of understanding galaxy evolution? How to make meaningful comparisons between observations and simulations?


3. How do recent advancements in Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) enhance our comprehension of the relationships between galaxies and baryonic matter?


4. What novel ventures should both observers and simulators pursue to achieve a breakthrough in the coming years?

Important dates:
Announcement: March 10, 2024
Registration opens: April 01, 2024
Registration deadline: April 31, 2024
Date for selected candidates to be informed by email: Juley 30, 2024 onwards

For any queries: Please write email to - bbgb24@iucaa.in