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.
  • News
    A physically motivated galaxy size definition across different state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations
    Measuring galaxy sizes is essential for understanding how they were formed and evolved across time. However, traditional methods based on l ight concentration...
  • 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...
  • Publication
    A plausible link between dynamically unsettled molecular gas and the radio jet in NGC 6328
    We report the detection of outflowing molecular gas at the center of the nearby radio galaxy NGC6328 (z = 0.014), which has a gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio...
  • Publication
    A Population of Dust-rich Quasars at z ~ 1.5
    We report Herschel SPIRE (250, 350, and 500 μm) detections of 32 quasars with redshifts 0.5
  • Publication
    A possible shutting-down event of mass accretion in an active galactic nucleus at z ∼ 1.8
    We present the discovery of a large gradual apparent fading event in optical and near-infrared wavelengths in a quasar at $z=1.767$ by a factor of ${\sim}20\!-\...
  • Publication
    A possible signature of the influence of tidal perturbations in dwarf galaxy scaling relations
    Dwarf galaxies are excellent cosmological probes, because their shallow potential wells make them very sensitive to the key processes that drive galaxy...
  • Publication
    A post-merger enhancement only in star-forming Type 2 Seyfert galaxies: the deep learning view
    Supermassive black holes require a reservoir of cold gas at the centre of their host galaxy in order to accrete and shine as active galactic nuclei (AGN). Major...
  • Publication
    A precise measurement of the magnetic field in the corona of the black hole binary V404 Cygni
    Observations of binary stars containing an accreting black hole or neutron star often show x-ray emission extending to high energies (>10 kilo­–electron volts)...
  • Publication
    A prediction about the age of thick discs as a function of the stellar mass of the host galaxy
    One of the suggested thick disc formation mechanisms is that they were born quickly and in situ from a turbulent clumpy disc. Subsequently, thin discs formed...