Caroline Foster
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Caroline Foster is an observational astrophysicist whose work centers on the design and execution of large-scale integral field spectroscopy (IFS) surveys to unravel the formation and evolution of galaxies. She is best known for her pivotal role in developing Hector, a revolutionary multi-object IFS instrument for the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). Building on the success of the SAMI survey, Foster led the effort to scale up IFS capabilities, creating Hector to dramatically increase the survey speed for nearby galaxies. Her most-cited paper (2020, 19 citations) details Hector’s design, which employs high fill-factor imaging fibre bundles—hexabundles—to capture spatially resolved spectra of hundreds of galaxies simultaneously. This instrument enables unprecedented statistical studies of galaxy kinematics, star formation, and chemical enrichment. Foster’s contributions have directly shaped the next generation of IFS surveys, making her a key figure in Australian astronomy. Her work has already influenced how researchers approach large-scale galaxy mapping, and Hector is poised to deliver transformative data on galaxy evolution over the next decade.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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