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
    A Strong Dichotomy in S0 Disk Profiles between the Virgo Cluster and the Field
    We report evidence for a striking difference between S0 galaxies in the local field and the Virgo Cluster. While field S0 galaxies have disks whose surface...
  • Publication
    A study of catalogued nearby galaxy clusters in the SDSS-DR4. II. Cluster substructure
    Context. According to the current cosmological paradigm, large scale structures form hierarchically in the Universe. Clusters of galaxies grow through a...
  • Publication
    A study of the interplay between ionized gas and star clusters in the central region of NGC 5253 with 2D spectroscopy
    Context. Starbursts are one of the main contributors to the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium. However, mechanisms governing the interaction...
  • News
    A study shows the unexpected effect of black holes beyond their own galaxies
    At the heart of almost every sufficiently massive galaxy there is a black hole whose gravitational field, although very intense, affects only a small region...
  • News
    A study suggests that there are galaxies which might be older than the currently accepted age of the universe
    An observationally based study, led by Martín López Corredoira, researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has found that certain very distant...
  • News
    A system of globular clusters in the disc of a galaxy detected for the first time
    The OSIRIS instrument on the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) has discovered, on the spiral galaxy Messier 106, a system of globular clusters whose unusual...
  • News
    A titanic interstellar medium ejection from a massive starburst galaxy
    Feedback-driven winds from star formation or active galactic nuclei might be a relevant channel for the abrupt quenching of star formation in massive galaxies...
  • Publication
    A titanic interstellar medium ejection from a massive starburst galaxy at redshift 1.4
    Feedback-driven winds from star formation or active galactic nuclei might be a relevant channel for the abrupt quenching of star formation in massive galaxies...
  • Publication
    A unified picture of breaks and truncations in spiral galaxies from SDSS and S4G imaging
    The mechanism causing breaks in the radial surface-brightness distribution of spiral galaxies is not yet well known. Despite theoretical efforts, there is not a...