The analysis of the light distribution of galaxy is a crucial step in studying their structural components and therefore it plays a key role in understanding the processes that led to galaxy formation and evolution. For example, this allows to investigate the 3D shape of bulges and disks or when combined with kinematic data to derive the mass

In this thesis, we investigate the emergence of kinetic processes in finite quantum systems. We first generalize the Redfield theory to describe the dynamics of a small quantum system weakly interacting with an environment of finite heat capacity. We then study in detail the spin-GORM model, a model made of a two-level system interacting with a

We present the first results of intermediate resolution spectral observations in the CaII triplet region obtained with VLT/FLAMES for 3 dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Local Group: Sculptor, Fornax and Sextans. For each galaxy, we obtained accurate velocity and metallicity measurements for hundreds of stars out to and beyond the tidal radius: this

H-alpha emission both traces diffuse ionised nebulae and is commonly prominent in the spectra of pre- and post-main-sequence stars and interacting binaries. Since these are mostly relatively short-lived phases of evolution, they represent a minority of objects in a mature galaxy like our own at any one time. In the case of interacting binaries

A study of the morphology, kinematics and ionization structure of the infrared (IR) merger NGC5514 is presented. This study is based mainly on INTEGRAL two-dimensional (2D) spectroscopy (obtained at the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope, WHT), plus optical and near-IR images. Clear evidence of two extranuclear starbursts with young outflows (OFs)

We report on a spectroscopic determination of the stellar parameters and chemical abundances for the parent star of the transiting planet TrES-1. Based on a detailed analysis of iron lines in our Keck and Hobby-Eberly Telescope spectra, we derive Teff=5250+/-75 K, logg=4.6+/-0.2, and [Fe/H]=0.00+/-0.09. By measuring the Ca II activity indicator and