The Lyman-alpha line is a powerful observational signature that can be used to address a wide variety of astrophysical questions including star-formation diagnostics, the dust content and ISM properties of galaxies and their evolution over cosmic time. Radiation transfer models, including polarisation signatures, provide invaluable information to understand and interpret Lyman alpha observations. Most recent semi-analytic models of galaxy formation include radiation tranfer results to describe the lya properties of simulated galaxies such us gas outflows and feedback, dust properties and metallicities. For all the aforementioned reasons, statistical samples of Lyman-Alpha Emitters (LAEs) are being assembled at all redshifts, pushing further the limits of actual and future instruments such as VLT-MUSE, KMOS, JWST, ELT-Harmoni.

To discuss these latest developments, and bring together observers and modelers, we organise a Symposium at EWASS2014. The timing of the meeting is optimal to present many expected results from the above mentioned facilities and ongoing projects. The session should contribute to review the state of knowledge of the complex nature of the Lyman alpha transfer in the framework of a rapidly evolving field of interest to a wide community of astronomers. The EWASS2014 provides an excellent opportunity to gather a broad diversity of experts in different fields in order to confront recent developments in numerical simulations and modeling with a large amount of observational data of various astrophysical sources, from the local Universe to the reionization epoch.

Programme

• Lyman-alpha emitters (LAE) and their connection with other galaxy populations
• Understanding Lyman-alpha physics : lessons from nearby galaxies
• The nature of Lyman-alpha blobs (LABs)
• Galaxy formation models confronted to UV and Lya observations
• Cosmological uses of Lyman-alpha (reionisation, galaxy clustering, dark energy)

Invited speakers

• Daniel Stark (University of Arizona)
• Masami Ouchi (University of Tokyo)
• Matthew Hayes (University of Stockholm)
• Claudia Scarlata (University of Minnesota)
• Andrea Ferrara (TBC) (Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa)
• Michael Rauch (Carnegie Observatories)
• Laura Pentericci (TBC) (INAF Roma)
• Mark Dijkstra (University of Oslo)
• Viviana Acquaviva (New York City College of Technology)

Scientific organizers

• Hakim Atek (Co-Chair)
• Pratika Dayal
• Lucia Guaita
• Daniel Kunth
• Peter Laursen
• Anne Verhamme (Chair)

Contact
anne.verhamme@unige.ch, hakim.atek @ epfl.ch