Traces of Galaxy Formation: Stellar populations, Dynamics and Morphology

    General
    Description

    Welcome to the Traces of Galaxy Formation research group website.

    We are a large, diverse, and very active research group aiming to provide a comprehensive picture for the formation of galaxies in the Universe. Rooted in detailed stellar population analysis, we are constantly exploring and developing new tools and ideas to understand how galaxies came to be what we now observe.

    A complex star formation history, as the one expected to describe galaxy evolution, needs a multidisciplinary approach to be fully understood. Our group at the IAC consists of experienced researchers in cosmological simulations, dynamical studies, stellar populations and morphological properties of galaxies up to high redshift. We combine different approaches (e.g. observations and theory, secular and cosmological evolution studies) to obtain a complete view of the dominant mechanisms driving the evolution of galaxies.

    Within this general framework, we are currently exploring three main areas of research:

    1. Stellar population synthesis models
      • Development of new stellar population synthesis models
      • Stellar population analysis tools
      • Universality of the stellar initial mass function (IMF)
       
    2. Cosmic evolution of galaxies
      • Massive galaxy evolution
      • Stellar populations in different environments
      • Low surface brightness science
      • Machine learning and cosmological simulations
       
    3. Evolutionary processes in nearby galaxies
      • The role of black holes in the evolution of galaxies
      • Surveys of nearby galaxies
      • Stellar kinematics and dynamical models

    If you want to get in contact or work with us, please send an email to the head of the group (Ignacio Martín-Navarro ignacio.martin [at] iac.es (ignacio[dot]martin[at]iac[dot]es)).

    Principal investigator

    Here you can find some of our most recent highlights:

    Related publications

    • The SAURON project - XIX. Optical and near-infrared scaling relations of nearby elliptical, lenticular and Sa galaxies
      We present ground-based MDM Observatory V-band and Spitzer/InfraRed Array Camera 3.6-?m-band photometric observations of the 72 representative galaxies of the SAURON survey. Galaxies in our sample probe the elliptical E, lenticular S0 and spiral Sa populations in the nearby Universe, both in field and cluster environments. We perform aperture
      Falcón-Barroso, J. et al.

      Advertised on:

      11
      2011
      Citations
      71
    • The SAURON Project - XIV. No escape from Vesc: a global and local parameter in early-type galaxy evolution
      We present the results of an investigation of the local escape velocity (Vesc) - line strength index relationship for 48 early-type galaxies from the SAURON sample, the first such study based on a large sample of galaxies with both detailed integral field observations and extensive dynamical modelling. Values of Vesc are computed using multi
      Scott, Nicholas et al.

      Advertised on:

      10
      2009
      Citations
      81
    • The SAURON project - XIII. SAURON-GALEX study of early-type galaxies: the ultraviolet colour-magnitude relations and Fundamental Planes
      We present Galaxy Evolution Explorer far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) imaging of 34 nearby early-type galaxies from the SAURON representative sample of 48 E/S0 galaxies, all of which have ground-based optical imaging from the MDM Observatory. The surface brightness profiles of nine galaxies (~26 per cent) show regions with blue UV
      Jeong, Hyunjin et al.

      Advertised on:

      10
      2009
      Citations
      84
    • The Nature of Fossil Galaxy Groups: Are They Really Fossils?
      We use SDSS-DR4 photometric and spectroscopic data out to redshift z ~ 0.1 combined with ROSAT All Sky Survey X-ray data to produce a sample of 25 fossil groups (FGs), defined as bound systems dominated by a single, luminous elliptical galaxy with extended X-ray emission. We examine possible biases introduced by varying the parameters used to
      La Barbera, F. et al.

      Advertised on:

      4
      2009
      Citations
      45
    • The link between the star formation history and [α/Fe ]
      The abundance ratios between key elements such as iron and α-process elements carry a wealth of information on the star formation history (SFH) of galaxies. So far, simple chemical evolution models have linked [α/Fe ] with the SFH time-scale, correlating large abundance ratios with short-lived SFH. The incorporation of full spectral fitting to the
      de la Rosa, I. G. et al.

      Advertised on:

      11
      2011
      Citations
      79
    • The Einstein Cross: Constraint on Dark Matter from Stellar Dynamics and Gravitational Lensing
      We present two-dimensional line-of-sight stellar kinematics of the lens galaxy in the Einstein Cross, obtained with the GEMINI 8 m telescope, using the GMOS integral-field spectrograph. The stellar kinematics extend to a radius of 4'' (with 0farcs2 spaxels), covering about two-thirds of the effective (or half-light) radius Re ~= 6'' of this early
      van de Ven, Glenn et al.

      Advertised on:

      8
      2010
      Citations
      50
    • Superdense Massive Galaxies in the Nearby Universe
      Superdense massive galaxies (re ~ 1 kpc; M ~ 1011 M sun) were common in the early universe (z gsim 1.5). Within some hierarchical merging scenarios, a non-negligible fraction (1%-10%) of these galaxies is expected to survive since that epoch, retaining their compactness and presenting old stellar populations in the present universe. Using the NYU
      Trujillo, I. et al.

      Advertised on:

      2
      2009
      Citations
      170
    • Stellar velocity profiles and line strengths out to four effective radii in the early-type galaxies NGC3379 and 821
      We use the integral-field spectrograph SAURON to measure the stellar line-of-sight velocity distribution and absorption line strengths out to four effective radii (Re) in the early-type galaxies NGC 3379 and 821. With our newly developed observing technique, we can now probe these faint regions in galaxies that were previously not accessible with
      Weijmans, Anne-Marie et al.

      Advertised on:

      9
      2009
      Citations
      120
    • Stellar Kinematics in Double-Barred Galaxies: The σ-Hollows
      We present SAURON integral-field stellar velocity and velocity dispersion maps for four double-barred early-type galaxies: NGC 2859, NGC 3941, NGC 4725, and NGC 5850. The presence of the inner bar does not produce major changes in the line-of-sight velocity, but it appears to have an important effect in the stellar velocity dispersion maps: we find
      de Lorenzo-Cáceres, A. et al.

      Advertised on:

      9
      2008
      Citations
      35
    • On the Radial Stellar Content of Early-type Galaxies as a Function of Mass and Environment
      Using optical-optical and optical-NIR colors, we analyze the radial dependence of age and metallicity inside massive (M sstarf >~ 1010.5 M sun), low-redshift (z 0.1), early-type galaxies (ETGs), residing in both high-density group regions and the field. On average, internal color gradients of ETGs are mainly driven by metallicity, consistent with
      La Barbera, F. et al.

      Advertised on:

      10
      2011
      Citations
      27
    • MIUSCAT: extended MILES spectral coverage - II. Constraints from optical photometry
      In this work, we show a comprehensive comparison of our new stellar population synthesis (SPS) MIUSCAT models with photometric data of globular clusters (GCs) and early-type galaxies.The models compare remarkably well with the colours of Milky Way GCs in the optical range. Likewise, the colours of M31 GCs can also be explained by the models by
      Ricciardelli, E. et al.

      Advertised on:

      7
      2012
      Citations
      60
    • MIUSCAT: extended MILES spectral coverage - I. Stellar population synthesis models
      We extend the spectral range of our stellar population synthesis models based on the MILES and CaT empirical stellar spectral libraries. For this purpose, we combine these two libraries with the Indo-U.S. to construct composite stellar spectra to feed our models. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) computed with these models and the originally
      Vazdekis, A. et al.

      Advertised on:

      7
      2012
      Citations
      262
    • Evolutionary stellar population synthesis with MILES - I. The base models and a new line index system
      We present synthetic spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for single-age, single-metallicity stellar populations (SSPs) covering the full optical spectral range at moderately high resolution [full width at half-maximum (FWHM) = 2.3Å]. These SEDs constitute our base models, as they combine scaled-solar isochrones with an empirical stellar spectral
      Vazdekis, A. et al.

      Advertised on:

      6
      2010
      Citations
      895
    • Dissecting the size evolution of elliptical galaxies since z˜ 1: puffing-up versus minor-merging scenarios
      At a fixed stellar mass, the size of low-redshift early-type galaxies is found to be a factor of 2 larger than that of their counterparts at z˜ 1, a result with important implications for galaxy formation models. In this paper, we have explored the buildup of the local mass-size relation of elliptical galaxies using two visually classified samples
      Trujillo, I. et al.

      Advertised on:

      8
      2011
      Citations
      166
    • Dissecting Early-type Dwarf Galaxies into Their Multiple Components
      Early-type dwarf galaxies, once believed to be simple systems, have recently been shown to exhibit an intriguing diversity in structure and stellar content. To analyze this further, we started the SMAKCED project (Stellar content, MAss and Kinematics of Cluster Early-type Dwarfs, http://www.smakced.net) and obtained deep H-band images for 101 early
      Janz, J. et al.

      Advertised on:

      2
      2012
      Citations
      60
    • Discovery of an Active Galactic Nucleus Driven Molecular Outflow in the Local Early-type Galaxy NGC 1266
      We report the discovery of a powerful molecular wind from the nucleus of the non-interacting nearby S0 field galaxy NGC 1266. The single-dish CO profile exhibits emission to ±400 km s-1 and requires a nested Gaussian fit to be properly described. Interferometric observations reveal a massive, centrally concentrated molecular component with a mass
      Alatalo, K. et al.

      Advertised on:

      7
      2011
      Citations
      267
    • Constraints on Feedback Processes during the Formation of Early-type Galaxies
      Galaxies are found to obey scaling relations between a number of observables. These relations follow different trends at the low- and high-mass ends. The processes driving the curvature of scaling relations remain uncertain. In this Letter, we focus on the specific family of early-type galaxies, deriving the star formation histories of a complete
      Trevisan, M. et al.

      Advertised on:

      6
      2012
      Citations
      13
    • An updated MILES stellar library and stellar population models
      Aims: We present a number of improvements to the MILES library and stellar population models. We correct some small errors in the radial velocities of the stars, measure the spectral resolution of the library and models more accurately, and give a better absolute flux calibration of the models. Methods: We use cross-correlation techniques to
      Falcón-Barroso, J. et al.

      Advertised on:

      8
      2011
      Citations
      600
    • Estimation of Galactic Model Parameters in High Latitudes with SDSS
      We estimated the Galactic model parameters for a set of 36 high-latitude fields included in the currently available Data Release 5 (DR 5) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), to explore their possible variation with the Galactic longitude. The thick disc scaleheight moves from ˜550 pc at 120°
      Bilir, S. et al.

      Advertised on:

      0
      2008
      Citations
      44
    • Comparison of star formation rates from Hα and infrared luminosity as seen by Herschel
      We empirically MD test the relation between the SFR(LIR) derived from the infrared luminosity, LIR, and the SFR(Hα) derived from the Hα emission line luminosity using simple conversion relations. We use a sample of 474 galaxies at z = 0.06-0.46 with both Hα detection [from 20k redshift Cosmological Evolution (zCOSMOS) survey] and new far-IR
      Domínguez-Sánchez, H. et al.

      Advertised on:

      10
      2012
      Citations
      28

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