General
Galaxy formation and evolution is a fundamental Astrophysical problem. Its study requires “travelling back in time”, for which there are two complementary approaches. One is to analyse galaxy properties as a function of red-shift. Our team focuses on the other approach, called “Galactic Archaeology”. It is based on the determination of galaxy properties from the study of their resolved stars. Depending on their mass, stars can live as long as a Hubble time, thus allowing to study in exquisite detail how galaxies have evolved from the early Universe to the present time. This research is one of the main drivers of major international projects, both observational (such as the on-going Gaia mission and SDSS surveys, and the planned WHT/WEAVE, LSST, VISTA/4MOST, DESI, E-ELT/HARMONI, to name a few), and theoretical (such as Nihao, Magic and Auriga hydrodynamical cosmological simulations), in most of which members of our team are involved. This ensures that Galactic Archaelogy will be at the forefront of astronomical research for a long time.
The objective of this project is to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies of different morphological types, using the many local examples that can be resolved into individual stars, and which, therefore can be studied in a detail impossible elsewhere. In particular, the Local Group and its immediate surroundings contain about 80 galaxies of different morphological types. Among these, the largest are spiral galaxies (the Milky Way, M31 and M33), a dozen of them are (dwarf) irregulars and the rest are early-type systems. Thus, we can study galaxies of different morphological types, from the Milky Way down to the smallest galactic scales, which are those challenging our understanding of what a "galaxy" is.
We aim to derive their evolutionary history using a set of complementary techniques: I) using deep photometry reaching the old main sequence turn-offs, it is possible to derive the full star formation history over the entire galaxy's life; ii) spectroscopic studies of individual stars add direct information on the kinematics and chemical abundances of the different stellar populations; iii) for the most nearby systems, the inclusion of accurate astrometric measurements yields information on the distance (and thus absolute brightness), the orbital motion of the system and can even deliver the full 6D phase-space information of sub-samples of stars; iv) the study of variable stars such as Cepheids and RR Lyrae provide independent constraints on metallicities and ages of the populations they belong to. These observations offer invaluable, rich information, that can be interpreted using hydrodynamic cosmological simulations of galaxy formation that model a wide range of important physical processes.
Members
Results
Below a list of highlights from the group activities in 2020-2021. For a more general overview see publication list and this webpage.
1. Using HST data of the ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) Eridanus II, we determined (Gallart+2021) that its only star formatio event, occurred 13 Gyr ago, was very short (100-500Myr). The associated SNe energy could be enough to expel the remaining gas, casting doubts on the need to invoke cosmic reionization as the preferred explanation for the early quenching of UFD galaxies.
2. The various star formation episodes, extended to few hundred million years ago, which we have precisely dated in the dwarf spheroidal galaxies Fornax (Rusakov+2021) and Leo I (Ruiz-Lara+2021), have shed light on the effects of interactions and mergers in the star formation history of dwarf galaxies.
3. By performing for the first time a joint dynamical modeling of the internal stellar and HI gas kinematics of a Local Group dwarf galaxy, WLM, we were able to determine that its dark matter halo is likely both cored and has a prolate shape, where the co-existence of these features might pose a problem for self-interacting dark matter models (Leung+2021).
4. For the first time using cosmological simulations, we demonstrated that mergers are a viable explanation for the presence of prolate rotation in the stellar component of galaxies also on the scale of dwarf galaxies (Cardona-Barrero+2021)
5. Robert Grand ran the highest resolution MHD cosmological Milky Way simulation in the world (Grand+2021), run on MPCDF Raven large compute system for which the PI had rolling access as an MPA fellow.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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A probabilistic deep learning model to distinguish cusps and cores in dwarf galaxiesNumerical simulations within a cold dark matter (DM) cosmology form haloes whose density profiles have a steep inner slope ('cusp'), yet observations of galaxies often point towards a flat central 'core'. We develop a convolutional mixture density neural network model to derive a probability density function (PDF) of the inner density slopes of DMExpósito-Márquez, J. et al.
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32023 -
Metallicity profiles of ultradiffuse galaxies in NIHAO simulationsSupernovae feedback driven expansion has proven to be a viable mechanism to explain the average properties, such as size, colour, mass, and internal kinematics, of a large fraction of ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs). Here, we explore the origin of stellar metallicity gradients in feedback driven simulated UDGs from the NIHAO project and compare themCardona-Barrero, S. et al.
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22023 -
The Pristine survey - XIX. Cu and Zn abundances in metal-poor giantsMetal-poor stars formed from a gas enriched by the ejecta of the explosion of one/few generations of first massive stars. With the Pristine photometry combined with the Gaia data, we selected a sample of bright giants metal-poor candidates to be observed at high resolution. Of the 43 stars observed, 36 were confirmed to be metal-poor, supportingCaffau, E. et al.
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12023 -
On the use of field RR Lyrae as galactic probes - VI. Mixed mode RR Lyrae variables in Fornax and in nearby dwarf galaxiesWe investigate the properties of the mixed-mode (RRd) RR Lyrae (RRL) variables in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy by using B- and V-band time series collected over 24 yr. We compare the properties of the RRds in Fornax with those in the Magellanic Clouds and in nearby dSphs, with special focus on Sculptor. We found that the ratio of RRdsBraga, V. F. et al.
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122022 -
The impact of two massive early accretion events in a Milky Way-like galaxy: repercussions for the buildup of the stellar disc and haloWe identify and characterize a Milky Way-like realization from the Auriga simulations with two consecutive massive mergers $\sim 2$ Gyr apart at high redshift, comparable to the reported Kraken and Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus. The Kraken-like merger (z = 1.6, $M_{\rm Tot}=8\times 10^{10}\, \rm {M_{\odot }}$) is gas-rich, deposits most of its mass in theOrkney, Matthew D. A. et al.
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112022 -
Asymmetrical tidal tails of open star clusters: stars crossing their cluster's práh<SUP>†</SUP> challenge Newtonian gravitationAfter their birth a significant fraction of all stars pass through the tidal threshold (práh) of their cluster of origin into the classical tidal tails. The asymmetry between the number of stars in the leading and trailing tails tests gravitational theory. All five open clusters with tail data (Hyades, Praesepe, Coma Berenices, COIN-Gaia 13, NGCKroupa, Pavel et al.
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122022 -
Dipolar dark matter simulations on galaxy scales with the RAMSES codeWe numerically explore on galaxy scales the dipolar dark matter (DM) model based on the concept of gravitational polarization. This DM model has been proposed as a natural way to reproduce observed tight galactic scaling relations such as the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation and the Radial Acceleration Relation. We present a customized version of theStahl, Clément et al.
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112022 -
Anisotropic satellite accretion on to the Local Group with HESTIAHow the cosmic web feeds haloes, and fuels galaxy formation is an open question with wide implications. This study explores the mass assembly in the Local Group (LG) within the context of the local cosmography by employing simulations whose initial conditions have been constrained to reproduce the local environment. The goal of this study is toDupuy, Alexandra et al.
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112022 -
The Pristine survey - XVI. The metallicity of 26 stellar streams around the Milky Way detected with the STREAMFINDER in Gaia EDR3We use the photometric metallicities provided by the panoramic Pristine survey to study the veracity and derive the metallicities of the numerous stellar streams found by the application of the STREAMFINDER algorithm to the Gaia Early Data Release 3 data. All 26 streams present in Pristine show a clear metallicity distribution function, whichMartin, Nicolas F. et al.
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112022 -
The Pristine dwarf galaxy survey - IV. Probing the outskirts of the dwarf galaxy Boötes IWe present a new spectroscopic study of the dwarf galaxy Boötes I (Boo I) with data from the Anglo-Australian Telescope and its AAOmega spectrograph together with the Two Degree Field multi-object system. We observed 36 high-probability Boo I stars selected using Gaia Early Data Release 3 proper motions and photometric metallicities from theLongeard, Nicolas et al.
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102022 -
Stellar metallicity gradients of Local Group dwarf galaxiesAims: We explore correlations between the strength of metallicity gradients in Local Group dwarf galaxies and their stellar mass, star formation history timescales, and environment. Methods: We performed a homogeneous analysis of literature spectroscopic data of red giant stars and determined radial metallicity profiles for 30 Local Group dwarfTaibi, S. et al.
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92022 -
Young, Blue, and Isolated Stellar Systems in the Virgo Cluster. I. 2D Optical SpectroscopyWe use panoramic optical spectroscopy obtained with the Very Large Telescope/MUSE to investigate the nature of five candidate extremely isolated low-mass star-forming regions (Blue Candidates; hereafter, BCs) toward the Virgo cluster of galaxies. Four of the five (BC1, BC3, BC4, and BC5) are found to host several H II regions and to have radialBellazzini, Michele et al.
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82022 -
Machine learning for galactic archaeology: a chemistry-based neural network method for identification of accreted disc starsWe develop a method ('Galactic Archaeology Neural Network', GANN) based on neural network models (NNMs) to identify accreted stars in galactic discs by only their chemical fingerprint and age, using a suite of simulated galaxies from the Auriga Project. We train the network on the target galaxy's own local environment defined by the stellar haloTronrud, Thorold et al.
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92022 -
The Gaia EDR3 view of Johnson-Kron-Cousins standard stars: the curated Landolt and Stetson collectionsContext. In the era of large surveys and space missions, it is necessary to rely on large samples of well-characterized stars for inter-calibrating and comparing measurements from different surveys and catalogues. Among the most employed photometric systems, the Johnson-Kron-Cousins has been used for decades and for a large amount of importantPancino, E. et al.
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82022 -
Young, Blue, and Isolated Stellar Systems in the Virgo Cluster. II. A New Class of Stellar SystemWe discuss five blue stellar systems in the direction of the Virgo cluster, analogous to the enigmatic object SECCO 1 (AGC 226067). These objects were identified based on their optical and UV morphology and followed up with H I observations with the Very Large Array (and Green Bank Telescope), Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (on the Very LargeJones, Michael G. et al.
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82022 -
New Theoretical Period-Luminosity-Metallicity Relations for RR Lyrae in the Rubin-LSST FiltersThe revolutionary power of future Rubin-LSST observations will allow us to significantly improve the physics of pulsating stars, including RR Lyrae. In this context, an updated theoretical scenario predicting all the relevant pulsation observables in the corresponding photometric filters is mandatory. The bolometric light curves are based on aMarconi, Marcella et al.
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72022 -
Pegasus V/Andromeda XXXIV-a newly discovered ultrafaint dwarf galaxy on the outskirts of AndromedaWe report the discovery of an ultrafaint dwarf in the constellation of Pegasus. Pegasus V (Peg V)/Andromeda XXXIV was initially identified in the public imaging data release of the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys and confirmed with deep imaging from Gemini/GMOS-N. The colour-magnitude diagram shows a sparse red giant branch (RGB) population and aCollins, Michelle L. M. et al.
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92022 -
The PAndAS View of the Andromeda Satellite System. III. Dwarf Galaxy Detection LimitsWe determine the detection limits of the search for dwarf galaxies in the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS) using the algorithm developed by the PAndAS team. The recovery fractions of artificial dwarf galaxies are, as expected, a strong function of physical size and luminosity and, to a lesser extent, distance. We show that theseDoliva-Dolinsky, Amandine et al.
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72022 -
On the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy NGC 6822. I. Young, Intermediate, and Old Stellar PopulationsWe present accurate and deep multiband (g, r, i) photometry of the Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 6822. The images were collected with wide-field cameras at 2 m/4 m (INT, CTIO, CFHT) and 8 m class telescopes (Subaru) covering a 2 deg 2 field of view across the center of the galaxy. We performed point-spread function photometry of ≍7000 CCDTantalo, Maria et al.
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72022 -
Stellar migration in the Auriga simulationsWe study the presence and importance of stellar migration in the evolution of 17 Milky-Way like disc galaxies with stellar mass 10 < log(M */M ⊙) < 11 from the Auriga suite of zoom-in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. We compare the birth radii of the stars to their radii at z = 0 for each system and present mean values of the strength ofOkalidis, Periklis et al.
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82022
