Lines of research: Formation & Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG)

Formation & Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG)

Galaxies are formed progressively through a complex combination of gas accretion, star formation and merger processes with other galaxies. The aim of the Galaxy Formation & Evolution research line is to unveil the physical mechanisms responsible for the most significant transformations in these objects. The research team that makes up the research line is strongly involved in the development of forefront instrumentation (EMIR, FRIDA, GTCAO, HARMONI, OSIRIS, WEAVE) and has an important role in the scientific exploitation and  development of international projects (SDSS, EUCLID, LSST) for the study of the formation and evolution of galaxies.

 
The line stands out for studies on the three-dimensional structure of the Milky Way (including its system of globular clusters and satellite galaxies), the characterisation of stellar populations and dynamics of nearby galaxies, the cycle of activity of supermassive black holes at the centres of  galaxies, the conditions of the interstellar medium in the first galaxies, and the role of dark matter in their evolution. Besides, thanks to the recently created simulations group, we also aim to relate observations with theory by means of numerical models over cosmological volumes and thus obtain predictions for future observations.
  • Publication
    A targeted search for strongly lensed supernovae with the Las Cumbres Observatory
    Gravitationally lensed supernovae (glSNe) are of interest for time delay cosmology and SN physics. However, glSNe detections are rare, owing to the intrinsic...
  • News
    A titanic interstellar medium ejection from a massive starburst galaxy
    Feedback-driven winds from star formation or active galactic nuclei might be a relevant channel for the abrupt quenching of star formation in massive galaxies...
  • Publication
    A titanic interstellar medium ejection from a massive starburst galaxy at redshift 1.4
    Feedback-driven winds from star formation or active galactic nuclei might be a relevant channel for the abrupt quenching of star formation in massive galaxies...
  • Publication
    A unified picture of breaks and truncations in spiral galaxies from SDSS and S4G imaging
    The mechanism causing breaks in the radial surface-brightness distribution of spiral galaxies is not yet well known. Despite theoretical efforts, there is not a...
  • Publication
    A Virtual Observatory Census to Address Dwarfs Origins (AVOCADO). I. Science goals, sample selection, and analysis tools
    Context. Even though they are by far the most abundant of all galaxy types, the detailed properties of dwarf galaxies are still only poorly characterised -...
  • News
    A week to go deeper into some of the more “ghostly” structures in the Universe
    Tenerife will host a meeting of the International Astronomical Union with over a hundred specialists from all over the world, at which there will be discussion...
  • Publication
    A wiggling filamentary jet at the origin of the blazar multi-wavelength behaviour
    Context. Blazars are beamed active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known for their strong multi-wavelength variability on timescales ranging from years down to minutes...
  • Publication
    Abell 1758N from an optical point of view: new insights on a merging cluster with diffuse radio emission
    Context. The mechanisms producing the diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters, and in particular their connection with cluster mergers, are still debated...
  • Publication
    Absence of nuclear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission from a compact starburst: The case of the type-2 quasar Mrk 477
    Mrk 477 is the closest type-2 quasar, at a distance of 163 Mpc. This makes it an ideal laboratory for studying the interplay between nuclear activity and star...