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
    Observed versus simulated halo c-M<SUB>vir</SUB> relations
    The concentration - virial mass relation is a well-defined trend that reflects the formation of structure in an expanding universe. Numerical simulations reveal...
  • News
    Observers measure how Andromeda’s central black hole is fed
    A team of scientists led by the Observatory of Munich University and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias have obtained direct visualization of the process...
  • News
    OMAIRA GONZÁLEZ MARTÍN: “The Canary Observatories have been essential in the advance of the study of nuclear activity in galaxies”
    For astronomers one of the biggest obstacles is the darkness of the Universe itself, above all the darkness caused by the gas and dust which surround active...
  • Publication
    On Star Formation Rates and Star Formation Histories of Galaxies Out to z ~ 3
    We compare multi-wavelength star formation rate (SFR) indicators out to z ~ 3 in the GOODS-South field. Our analysis uniquely combines U to 8 μm photometry from...
  • Publication
    On the anticorrelation between pericentric distance and inner dark matter density of Milky Way's dwarf spheroidal galaxies
    An anticorrelation between the central density of the dark matter (DM) halo (ρ 150, DM) and the pericentric distances (r p) of the Milky Way's (MW's) dwarf...
  • Publication
    On the Compact H II Galaxy UM 408 as Seen by GMOS-IFU: Physical Conditions
    We present Integral Field Unit GMOS-IFU data of the compact H II galaxy UM 408, obtained at the Gemini South telescope, in order to derive the spatial...
  • Publication
    On the Connection Between Shape and Stellar Population in Early-type Galaxies
    We report on the discovery of a relation between the stellar mass M* of early-type galaxies (hereafter ETGs), their shape, as parameterized by the Sersic index...
  • Publication
    On the Curvature of Dust Lanes in Galactic Bars
    We test the theoretical prediction that the straightest dust lanes in bars are found in strongly barred galaxies, or more specifically, that the degree of...
  • Publication
    On the Dearth of Ultra-faint Extremely Metal-poor Galaxies
    Local extremely metal-poor galaxies (XMPs) are of particular astrophysical interest since they allow us to look into physical processes characteristic of the...