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
    SDSS-IV MaNGA: stellar population gradients within barred galaxies
    Bars in galaxies are thought to stimulate both inflow of material and radial mixing along them. Observational evidence for this mixing has been inconclusive so...
  • Publication
    Search for Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies During Quiescence
    Blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies are metal-poor systems going through a major starburst that cannot last for long. We have identified galaxies which may be...
  • Publication
    Search for Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies During Quiescence. II. Metallicities of Gas and Stars, Ages, and Star Formation Rates
    We examine the metallicity and age of a large set of Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Data Release 6 galaxies that may be blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies during...
  • Publication
    Searching for molecular gas inflows and outflows in the nuclear regions of five Seyfert galaxies
    Active galactic nucleus (AGN) driven outflows are believed to play an important role in regulating the growth of galaxies, mostly via negative feedback. However...
  • Publication
    Secular Evolution of Bulges Induced by Satellite Accretion
    Satellite accretion events have been invoked for mimicking the internal secular evolutionary processes of bulge growth tep{Kormendy04}. In order to investigate...
  • Publication
    Secular- and merger-built bulges in barred galaxies
    Context. Historically, galaxy bulges were thought to be single-component objects at the center of galaxies. However, this picture is now questioned since...
  • Publication
    Self-interacting dark matter and the delay of supermassive black hole growth
    Using cosmological hydrodynamic simulations with physically motivated models of supermassive black hole (SMBH) formation and growth, we compare the assembly of...
  • Publication
    Serendipitous detection of an overdensity of Herschel-SPIRE 250 μm sources south of MRC 1138-26
    We report the serendipitous detection of a significant overdensity of Herschel-Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver 250 μm sources in the vicinity of MRC...
  • Publication
    Serendipitous Discovery of a Physical Binary Quasar at z = 1.76
    Binary quasars are extremely rare objects, used to investigate clustering on very small scales at different redshifts. The cases where the two quasar components...