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.
  • Project
    ExGal-Twin: Excellence in Galaxies - Twinning the IAC
    This Twinning action aims to strengthen the research and networking capacity, profile and impact of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in the area...
  • Publication
    Expansion Velocities and Core Masses of Bright Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster
    The line-of-sight velocities and [O III] 5007 Å expansion velocities are measured for 11 planetary nebulae (PNs) in the Virgo Cluster core, at 15 Mpc distance...
  • Publication
    Explaining the chemical trajectories of accreted and in-situ halo stars of the Milky Way
    The Milky Way underwent its last significant merger ten billion years ago, when the Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage (GES) was accreted. Accreted GES stars and progenitor...
  • Publication
    Explaining the Galactic Interstellar Dust Grain Size Distribution Function
    We present here a new theoretical model designed to explain the interstellar dust grain size distribution function (IDGSDF), and compare its results with...
  • News
    Exploring a new definition of the green valley and its implications
    Galaxy formation remains one of the major open problems in astrophysics today. There is a wide range of mechanisms that control the transformation of gas into...
  • Publication
    Exploring galaxy evolution time-scales in clusters: insights from the projected phase space
    Galaxies infalling into clusters undergo both star formation quenching and morphological transformation due to environmental effects. We investigate these...
  • Publication
    Exploring nine simultaneously occurring transients on April 12th 1950
    Nine point sources appeared within half an hour on a region within ∼? 10 arcmin of a red-sensitive photographic plate taken in April 1950 as part of the...
  • Publication
    Exploring the contamination of the DES-Y1 cluster sample with SPT-SZ selected clusters
    We perform a cross validation of the cluster catalogue selected by the red-sequence Matched-filter Probabilistic Percolation algorithm (redMaPPer) in Dark...
  • Publication
    Exploring the making of a galactic wind in the starbursting dwarf irregular galaxy IC 10 with LOFAR
    Low-mass galaxies are subject to strong galactic outflows, in which cosmic rays may play an important role; they can be best traced with low-frequency radio...