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
    The diverse cold molecular gas contents, morphologies, and kinematics of type-2 quasars as seen by ALMA
    We present CO(2−1) and adjacent continuum observations of seven nearby radio-quiet type-2 quasars (QSO2s) obtained with ALMA at ∼0.2″ resolution (370 pc at z ∼...
  • Publication
    The diverse density profiles of galaxy clusters with self-interacting dark matter plus baryons
    We present the first simulated galaxy clusters (M200 > 1014 M⊙) with both self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) and baryonic physics. They exhibit a greater...
  • Publication
    The dual nature of blazar fast variability: Space and ground observations of S5 0716+714
    Blazar S5 0716+714 is well-known for its short-term variability, down to intraday time-scales. We here present the 2-min cadence optical light curve obtained by...
  • Publication
    The Dust and Molecular Gas in the Brightest Cluster Galaxy in MACS 1931.8-2635
    We present new Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of the molecular gas and far-infrared continuum around the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the cool...
  • Publication
    The Dust and [C II] Morphologies of Redshift ∼4.5 Sub-millimeter Galaxies at ∼200 pc Resolution: The Absence of Large Clumps in the Interstellar Medium at High-redshift
    We present deep, high-resolution (0.″03, 200 pc) ALMA Band 7 observations covering the dust continuum and [C II] λ157.7 μm emission in four z ∼ 4.4–4.8 sub...
  • Publication
    The dust masses of powerful radio galaxies: clues to the triggering of their activity
    We use deep Herschel Space Observatory observations of a 90 per cent complete sample of 32 intermediate-redshift 2Jy radio galaxies (0.05 z 0.7) with strong...
  • Publication
    The dust morphology of the elliptical Galaxy M 86 with SPIRE
    We present Herschel-SPIRE observations at 250-500 μm of the giant elliptical galaxy M 86 and examine the distribution of the resolved cold dust emission and its...
  • Publication
    The dust-gas AGN torus as constrained from X-ray and mid-infrared observations
    Context. In recent decades, several multiwavelength studies have been dedicated to exploring the properties of the obscuring material in active galactic nuclei...
  • Publication
    The dusty tori of nearby QSOs as constrained by high-resolution mid-IR observations
    We present mid-infrared (MIR; 7.5-13.5 μm) imaging and spectroscopy observations obtained with the CanariCam (CC) instrument on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio...