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 Swift/Fermi GRB 080928 from 1 eV to 150 keV
    We present the results of a comprehensive study of the gamma-ray burst 080928 and of its afterglow. GRB 080928 was a long burst detected by Swift/BAT and Fermi...
  • Publication
    The synchrony of production and escape: half the bright Lyα emitters at z ≍ 2 have Lyman continuum escape fractions ≍50
    The ionizing photon escape fraction [Lyman continuum (LyC) f esc] of star-forming galaxies is the single greatest unknown in the reionization budget. Stochastic...
  • Publication
    The Tenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-III Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment
    The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has been in operation since 2000 April. This paper presents the Tenth Public Data Release (DR10) from its current...
  • Publication
    The Thick Disk in the Galaxy NGC 4244 from S4G Imaging
    If thick disks are ubiquitous and a natural product of disk galaxy formation and/or evolution processes, all undisturbed galaxies that have evolved during a...
  • Publication
    The truncation of the disk of NGC 4565. Detected up to z = 4 kpc, with star formation, and affected by the warp
    Context. The hierarchical model of galaxy formation suggests that galaxies are continuously growing. However, our position inside the Milky Way prevents us from...
  • Publication
    The Typical Massive Quiescent Galaxy at z ∼ 3 is a Post-starburst
    We have obtained spectroscopic confirmation with Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/G141 of a first sizeable sample of nine quiescent galaxies at 2.4 < z < 3.3. Their...
  • Publication
    The UK Infrared Telescope M 33 monitoring project - V. The star formation history across the galactic disc
    We have conducted a near-infrared monitoring campaign at the UK Infrared Telescope of the Local Group spiral galaxy M 33 (Triangulum). On the basis of their...
  • Publication
    The ultraviolet to far-infrared spectral energy distribution of star-forming galaxies in the redshift desert
    We analyse the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (near-IR) spectral energy distribution (SED) of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs), star-forming (SF) BzK...
  • Publication
    The uncertain interstellar medium of high-redshift quiescent galaxies: Impact of methodology
    How much gas and dust is contained in high-redshift quiescent galaxies (QGs) is currently an open question with relatively few and contradictory answers, as...