"Disk heating, Galasctoseiemology and the Formation of Stellar Halos"

Abstract:  Deep photometric surveys of the Milky Way have revealed diffuse structures encircling our Galaxy far beyond the ``classical'' limits of the stellar disk. This talk reviews results from observational programs which together suggest that, despite their extreme positions, the stars in these structures were formed in our Galactic disk. It also presents new simulations that illustrate the conditions necessary to explain their origin. There are multiple interesting implications of these findings.