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.
  • Capability
    R&D&I project management
    The development of large and complex scientific instruments has led the IAC to specialize in project management techniques, a discipline to coordinate the human...
  • Publication
    Radial distribution of gas and dust in spiral galaxies . The case of M 99 (NGC 4254) and M 100 (NGC 4321)
    By combining Herschel-SPIRE data with archival Spitzer, H i , and CO maps, we investigate the spatial distribution of gas and dust in the two famous grand...
  • Publication
    Radial distribution of near-UV flux in disc galaxies in the range 0 ⪉ z ⪉ 1
    Context: In the last 8 Gyr of cosmic time the global star formation rate (SFR) has declined by roughly an order of magnitude, and most of this activity has been...
  • Publication
    Radio jets in NGC 4151: where eMERLIN meets HST
    We present high-sensitivity eMERLIN radio images of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 at 1.51 GHz. We compare the new eMERLIN images to those from archival MERLIN...
  • Publication
    Radio observations of extreme ULXs: revealing the most powerful ULX radio nebula ever or the jet of an intermediate-mass black hole?
    The most extreme ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), with LX > 5 × 1040 erg s-1, are amongst the best candidates for hosting intermediate-mass black holes...
  • Publication
    Radio spectrum evolution and magnetic field in extreme GPS radio sources. The case of RXJ1459+3337
    Aims:The knowledge of the properties of the youngest radio sources is very important in order to trace the earliest phase of the evolution of the radio emission...
  • Publication
    Radio structures of the nuclei of nearby Seyfert galaxies and the nature of the missing diffuse emission
    We present archival high-spatial-resolution VLA and VLBA data of the nuclei of seven of the nearest and brightest Seyfert galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere...
  • News
    RAFFAELLA MORGANTI: "The first image of a black hole was an important milestone for astrophysics"
    Radioastronomy is one of the branches of observational astrophysics which has experienced considerable growth in recent years. To study the universe at radio...
  • Publication
    Raining in MKW 3 s: A Chandra-MUSE Analysis of X-Ray Cold Filaments around 3CR 318.1
    We present the analysis of X-ray and optical observations of gas filaments observed in the radio source 3CR 318.1, associated with NGC 5920, the brightest...