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
    Trojans in the Solar Neighborhood
    About 20% of stars in the solar vicinity are in the Hercules stream, a bundle of stars that move together with a velocity distinct from the Sun. Its origin is...
  • Publication
    Turbulent Gas in Lensed Planck-selected Starbursts at z ∼ 1-3.5
    Dusty star-forming galaxies at high redshift (1 < z < 3) represent the most intense star-forming regions in the universe. Key aspects to these processes are the...
  • Publication
    Two physical regimes for the giant H II regions and giant molecular clouds in the Antennae galaxies
    We have combined observations of the Antennae galaxies from the radio interferometer ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) and from the optical...
  • Publication
    Two-dimensional metallicity distribution of the ionized gas in NGC 628 and NGC 6946
    Aims: We present here two H II region catalogues with azimuthal resolution for the two grand design galaxies NGC 628 and NGC 6946. With the help of these...
  • Publication
    Two-dimensional multi-component photometric decomposition of CALIFA galaxies
    We present a two-dimensional multi-component photometric decomposition of 404 galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area data release 3 (CALIFA-DR3...
  • Publication
    Ultra-bright CO and [{\rm{C}}\,{\rm{I}}] Emission in a Lensed z = 2.04 Submillimeter Galaxy with Extreme Molecular Gas Properties
    We report the very bright detection of cold molecular gas with the IRAM NOEMA interferometer of the strongly lensed source WISE J132934.18+224327.3 at z = 2.04...
  • Publication
    Ultra-deep imaging of NGC 1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4 to unravel their origins
    A number of scenarios have been proposed to explain the low velocity dispersion (and hence possible absence of dark matter) of the low surface brightness...
  • Publication
    Ultramassive Black Holes in the Most Massive Galaxies: M<SUB>BH</SUB>-σ versus M<SUB>BH</SUB>-R<SUB>b</SUB>
    We investigate the nature of the relations between black hole (BH) mass (M BH) and the central velocity dispersion (σ) and, for core-Sérsic galaxies, the size...
  • Publication
    Unbiased Large Spectroscopic Surveys of Galaxies Selected by SPICA Using Dust Bands
    The mid-infrared range contains many spectral features associated with large molecules and dust grains such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and silicates...