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 new method for age-dating the formation of bars in disc galaxies. The TIMER view on NGC1433's old bar and the inside-out growth of its nuclear disc
    The epoch in which galactic discs settle is a major benchmark for testing models of galaxy formation and evolution but remains largely unknown. Once discs...
  • Publication
    A New Method for Unveiling Box/Peanut Bulges in Face-On Galaxies
    We measured the stellar kinematics of three face-on galaxies with the aim of searching for box/peanut-shaped (B/P) bulges. These observations test and confirm...
  • Publication
    A newly identified galaxy group thanks to tidal streams of intragroup light
    Context. In the accretion-driven growth scenario, part of the intracluster light is formed in the group environment. Aims: We report the serendipitous discovery...
  • News
    A novel black hole mass scaling relation
    The confirmation of the existence of black holes is one of the most basic results in astrophysics. There is a wide range of masses of black holes, from those...
  • Publication
    A novel black hole mass scaling relation based on coronal gas, and its dependence with the accretion disc
    Using bona-fide black hole (BH) mass estimates from reverberation mapping and the line ratio [Si VI] 1.963$\rm{\mu m}$/Brγ broad as tracer of the AGN ionizing...
  • Publication
    A numerical study of interactions and stellar bars
    For several decades, it has been known that stellar bars in disc galaxies can be triggered by interactions, or by internal processes such as dynamical...
  • Publication
    A photometric analysis of Abell 1689: two-dimensional multistructure decomposition, morphological classification and the Fundamental Plane
    We present a photometric analysis of 65 galaxies in the rich cluster Abell 1689 at z = 0.183, using the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys...
  • Publication
    A physically motivated definition for the size of galaxies in an era of ultradeep imaging
    Present-day multiwavelength deep imaging surveys allow to characterize the outskirts of galaxies with unprecedented precision. Taking advantage of this...
  • Publication
    A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 `All-Sky' Survey
    We have carried out a pilot study for the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 (SCUBA-2) ‘All-Sky’ Survey (SASSy), a wide and shallow mapping project at...