Start year
2006
Organizational Unit
Organizing institutions
Grants related:
General
Description
Welcome to the Traces of Galaxy Formation research group website.
We are a large, diverse, and very active research group aiming to provide a comprehensive picture for the formation of galaxies in the Universe. Rooted in detailed stellar population analysis, we are constantly exploring and developing new tools and ideas to understand how galaxies came to be what we now observe.
A complex star formation history, as the one expected to describe galaxy evolution, needs a multidisciplinary approach to be fully understood. Our group at the IAC consists of experienced researchers in cosmological simulations, dynamical studies, stellar populations and morphological properties of galaxies up to high redshift. We combine different approaches (e.g. observations and theory, secular and cosmological evolution studies) to obtain a complete view of the dominant mechanisms driving the evolution of galaxies.
Within this general framework, we are currently exploring three main areas of research:
- Stellar population synthesis models
- Development of new stellar population synthesis models
- Stellar population analysis tools
- Universality of the stellar initial mass function (IMF)
- Cosmic evolution of galaxies
- Massive galaxy evolution
- Stellar populations in different environments
- Low surface brightness science
- Machine learning and cosmological simulations
- Evolutionary processes in nearby galaxies
- The role of black holes in the evolution of galaxies
- Surveys of nearby galaxies
- Stellar kinematics and dynamical models
If you want to get in contact or work with us, please send an email to the head of the group (Ignacio Martín-Navarro ignacio.martin [at] iac.es (ignacio[dot]martin[at]iac[dot]es)).
Members
Principal investigator
Ignacio
Martín Navarro
Project staff
Ignacio
Trujillo Cabrera
Alexandre
Vazdekis Vazdekis
Ignacio Alfonso
Ferreras Páez
Jesús
Falcón Barroso
Marc
Huertas-Portocarrero Company
Adriana de
Lorenzo-Cáceres Rodríguez
Anna
Ferré Mateu
Mireia
Montes Quiles
Regina
Sarmiento
Iveth Adaena
Gaspar Gorostieta
Eirini
Angeloudi
Giulia
Golini
Laura Elizabeth
Scholz Díaz
Pablo
Rodríguez Beltrán
Results
Here you can find some of our most recent highlights:
- Local variations of the stellar velocity ellipsoid - II. The effect of the bar in the inner regions of Auriga galaxies. Walo et al. 2022, MNRAS (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022MNRAS.513.4587W)
- Anisotropic satellite galaxy quenching modulated by black hole activity. Martín-Navarro et al. 2021, Nature (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594..187M)
- Evaluating hydrodynamical simulations with green valley galaxies. Angthopo et al. 2021, MNRAS (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021MNRAS.502.3685A)
- Sub one per cent mass fractions of young stars in red massive galaxies. Salvador-Rusiñol et al. 2020, Nature Astronomy (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020NatAs...4..252S)
- Detection of young stellar populations in apparently quenched low-mass galaxies using red spectral line indices. de Lorenzo-Cáceres et al. 2020, MNRAS (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020MNRAS.498.1002D)
Scientific activity
Related publications
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SIGNALS: I. Survey descriptionSIGNALS, the Star formation, Ionized Gas, and Nebular Abundances Legacy Survey, is a large observing programme designed to investigate massive star formation and H II regions in a sample of local extended galaxies. The programme will use the imaging Fourier transform spectrograph SITELLE at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Over 355 h (54.7Rousseau-Nepton, L. et al.
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112019 -
IMF radial gradients in most massive early-type galaxiesUsing new long-slit spectroscopy obtained with X-Shooter at ESO-VLT, we study, for the first time, radial gradients of optical and near-infrared initial mass function (IMF)-sensitive features in a representative sample of galaxies at the very high mass end of the galaxy population. The sample consists of seven early-type galaxies (ETGs) at z ̃ 0.05La Barbera, F. et al.
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112019 -
The structural properties of classical bulges and discs from z ̃ 2We study the rest-frame optical mass-size relation of bulges and discs from z ̃ 2 to z ̃ 0 for a complete sample of massive galaxies in the CANDELS fields using two-component Sérsic models. Discs and star-forming galaxies follow similar mass-size relations. The mass-size relation of bulges is less steep than the one of quiescent galaxies (bestDimauro, Paola et al.
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112019 -
The SAMI galaxy survey: stellar population radial gradients in early-type galaxiesWe study the internal radial gradients of the stellar populations in a sample comprising 522 early-type galaxies (ETGs) from the SAMI (Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph) Galaxy Survey. We stack the spectra of individual spaxels in radial bins, and derive basic stellar population properties: total metallicity ([Z/H]), [Mg/Fe], [CFerreras, Ignacio et al.
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102019 -
The Hubble Sequence at z ̃ 0 in the IllustrisTNG simulation with deep learningWe analyse the optical morphologies of galaxies in the IllustrisTNG simulation at z ̃ 0 with a convolutional neural network trained on visual morphologies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We generate mock SDSS images of a mass complete sample of ̃ 12 000 galaxies in the simulation using the radiative transfer code SKIRT and include PSF and noise toHuertas-Company, Marc et al.
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102019 -
The Fornax3D project: Tracing the assembly history of the cluster from the kinematic and line-strength mapsThe 31 brightest galaxies (mB ≤ 15 mag) inside the virial radius of the Fornax cluster were observed from the centres to the outskirts with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer on the Very Large Telescope. These observations provide detailed high-resolution maps of the line-of-sight kinematics, line strengths of the stars, ionised gas reaching 2-3Iodice, E. et al.
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72019 -
Stellar atmospheric parameters for 754 spectra from the X-shooter Spectral LibraryContext. The X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL) is an empirical stellar library at medium spectral resolution covering the wavelength range from 3000 Å to 24 800 Å. This library aims to provide a benchmark for stellar population studies. Aims: In this work, we present a uniform set of stellar atmospheric parameters, effective temperatures, surfaceArentsen, Anke et al.
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72019 -
The TRGB Distance to the Second Galaxy “Missing Dark Matter”: Evidence for Two Groups of Galaxies at 13.5 and 19 Mpc in the Line of Sight of NGC 1052A second galaxy “missing dark matter” (NGC 1052-DF4) has been reported recently. Here we show, using the location of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB), that the distance to this galaxy is 14.2 ± 0.7 Mpc. This locates the galaxy 6 Mpc closer than previously determined. We also analyze the distances to the brightest galaxies in the field of viewMonelli, Matteo et al.
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72019 -
The Fornax Deep Survey with the VST. VII. Evolution and structure of late type galaxies inside the virial radius of the Fornax clusterContext. We present the study of a magnitude limited sample (mB ≤ 16.6 mag) of 13 late type galaxies (LTGs), observed inside the virial radius, Rvir ˜ 0.7 Mpc, of the Fornax cluster within the Fornax Deep Survey (FDS). Aims: The main objective is to use surface brightness profiles and g - i colour maps to obtain information on the internalRaj, M. A. et al.
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82019 -
Constraining nuclear star cluster formation using MUSE-AO observations of the early-type galaxy FCC 47Context. Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are found in at least 70% of all galaxies, but their formation path is still unclear. In the most common scenarios, NSCs form in-situ from the galaxy's central gas reservoir, through the merging of globular clusters (GCs), or through a combination of both. Aims: As the scenarios pose different expectations forFahrion, Katja et al.
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82019 -
The GIST pipeline: A multi-purpose tool for the analysis and visualisation of (integral-field) spectroscopic dataWe present a convenient, all-in-one framework for the scientific analysis of fully reduced, (integral-field) spectroscopic data. The Galaxy IFU Spectroscopy Tool (GIST) is entirely written in Python 3 and conducts all the steps from the preparation of input data to the scientific analysis and to the production of publication-quality plots. In itsBittner, A. et al.
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82019 -
Formation of ultra-diffuse galaxies in the field and in galaxy groupsWe study ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in zoom in cosmological simulations, seeking the origin of UDGs in the field versus galaxy groups. We find that while field UDGs arise from dwarfs in a characteristic mass range by multiple episodes of supernova feedback (Di Cintio et al.), group UDGs may also form by tidal puffing up and they become quiescentJiang, Fangzhou et al.
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82019 -
NGC 7457: evidence for merger-driven cylindrical rotation in disc galaxiesWe construct Schwarzschild orbit-based models of NGC 7457, known as a peculiar low-mass lenticular galaxy. Our best-fitting model successfully retrieves most of the unusual kinematics behaviours of this galaxy, in which, the orbital distribution of stars is dominated by warm and hot orbits. The reconstructed surface brightness of the hot componentMolaeinezhad, A. et al.
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92019 -
A deeper look at the dust attenuation law of star-forming galaxies at high redshiftA diverse range of dust attenuation laws is found in star-forming galaxies. In particular, Tress et al. (2018) studied the SHARDS survey to constrain the NUV bump strength (B) and the total-to-selective ratio (RV) of 1753 star-forming galaxies in the GOODS-N field at 1.5 z 3. We revisit here this sample to assess the implications and possibleTress, M. et al.
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92019 -
Survival of molecular gas in a stellar feedback-driven outflow witnessed with the MUSE TIMER project and ALMAStellar feedback plays a significant role in modulating star formation, redistributing metals, and shaping the baryonic and dark structure of galaxies - however, the efficiency of its energy deposition to the interstellar medium is challenging to constrain observationally. Here we leverage HST and ALMA imaging of a molecular gas and dust shell (M_{Leaman, Ryan et al.
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92019 -
Exploring a new definition of the green valley and its implicationsThe distribution of galaxies on a colour-magnitude diagram reveals a bimodality, featuring a passively evolving red sequence and a star-forming blue cloud. The region between these two, the green valley (GV), represents a fundamental transition where quenching processes operate. We exploit an alternative definition of the GV using the 4000 Å breakAngthopo, James et al.
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92019 -
Fornax 3D project: a two-dimensional view of the stellar initial mass function in the massive lenticular galaxy FCC 167The stellar initial mass function (IMF) regulates the baryonic cycle within galaxies, and is a key ingredient for translating observations into physical quantities. Although it was assumed to be universal for decades, there is now growing observational evidence showing that the center of massive early-type galaxies hosts a larger population of lowMartín-Navarro, I. et al.
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62019 -
An old, metal-poor globular cluster in Sextans A and the metallicity floor of globular cluster systemsWe report the confirmation of an old, metal-poor globular cluster (GC) in the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy Sextans A, the first GC known in this galaxy. The cluster, which we designate as Sextans A-GC1, lies some 4.4 arcmin (˜1.8 kpc) to the SW of the galaxy centre and clearly resolves into stars in sub-arcsecond seeing ground-based imaging. WeBeasley, Michael A. et al.
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82019 -
The Fornax Deep Survey (FDS) with VST. VI. Optical properties of the dwarf galaxies in the Fornax clusterContext. Dwarf galaxies are the most common type of galaxies in galaxy clusters. Due to their low mass, they are more vulnerable to environmental effects than massive galaxies, and are thus optimal for studying the effects of the environment on galaxy evolution. By comparing the properties of dwarf galaxies with different masses, morphologicalVenhola, Aku et al.
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52019 -
Assembly bias evidence in close galaxy pairsThe growth channel of massive galaxies involving mergers can be studied via close pairs as putative merger progenitors, where the stellar populations of the satellite galaxies will be eventually incorporated into the massive primaries. We extend our recent analysis of the GAMA-based sample of close pairs presented in Ferreras et al. to the generalFerreras, I. et al.
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72019
