Studying Galaxy Formation with Hubble's Successor

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the capabilities and limitations of an 8-10 meter ultraviolet/optical telescope in space, the proposed successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, in the context of galaxy studies. The exquisite spatial resolution and excellent sensitivity of such a facility would open up new possibilities for the study of nearby dwarf galaxies ($z \la 0.5$), and for studying the internal structure and kinematics of more luminous galaxies at high redshift ($z \ga 2$). These applications are of particular importance because they would address areas in which the popular Cold Dark Matter theory is in potential conflict with observations.