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
    The GALEX/S4G Surface Brightness and Color Profiles Catalog. I. Surface Photometry and Color Gradients of Galaxies
    We present new spatially resolved surface photometry in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) from images obtained by the Galaxy Evolution...
  • Publication
    The GALEX/S4G UV–IR Color–Color Diagram: Catching Spiral Galaxies Away from the Blue Sequence
    We obtained GALEX FUV, NUV, and Spitzer/IRAC 3.6 μm photometry for \gt 2000 galaxies, available for 90% of the S4G sample. We find a very tight GALEX blue...
  • Publication
    The GIST pipeline: A multi-purpose tool for the analysis and visualisation of (integral-field) spectroscopic data
    We present a convenient, all-in-one framework for the scientific analysis of fully reduced, (integral-field) spectroscopic data. The Galaxy IFU Spectroscopy...
  • Publication
    The GLEAMing of the first supermassive black holes: II. A new sample of high-redshift radio galaxy candidates
    While unobscured and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are regularly being found at redshifts $z > 6$ , their obscured and radio-loud counterparts remain...
  • News
    The Gran Telescopio Canarias discovers the largest cluster of galaxies known in the early universe
    A study, led by researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and carried out with OSIRIS, an instrument on the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)...
  • Publication
    The GTC facility instruments: a status review
    The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) 10.4m telescope received its First Light on July 13, 2007. At present the GTC is undergoing commissioning tests. Night time...
  • Publication
    The GTC project: under commissioning
    The GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) is an optical/IR telescope, with a 10,4 meter segmented primary, installed at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos...
  • Publication
    The HerMES SPIRE submillimeter local luminosity function
    Local luminosity functions are fundamental benchmarks for high-redshift galaxy formation and evolution studies as well as for models describing these processes...
  • Publication
    The Herschel ATLAS
    The Herschel ATLAS is the largest open-time key project that will be carried out on the Herschel Space Observatory. It will survey 570 deg of the extragalactic...