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
    Embedded Star Formation in S4G Galaxy Dust Lanes
    Star-forming regions that are visible at 3.6 μm and Hα but not in the u, g, r, i, z bands of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey are measured in five nearby spiral...
  • Publication
    Emergence of an Ultrared, Ultramassive Galaxy Cluster Core at z = 4
    Recent simulations and observations of massive galaxy cluster evolution predict that the majority of stellar mass buildup happens within cluster members by z =...
  • Publication
    EMIR, the near-infrared camera and multi-object spectrograph for the GTC. EMIR at GTC
    We present EMIR, a powerful near-infrared (NIR) camera and multi-object spectrograph (MOS) installed at the Nasmyth focus of the 10.4 m GTC. EMIR was...
  • Publication
    Enhanced star formation rates in AGN hosts with respect to inactive galaxies from PEP-Herschel observations
    We compare the average star formation (SF) activity in X-ray selected AGN hosts with a mass-matched control sample of inactive galaxies, including both star...
  • Publication
    Environment of the Submillimeter-bright Massive Starburst HFLS3 at z ~ 6.34
    We describe the search for Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) near the submillimeter-bright starburst galaxy HFLS3 at z = 6.34 and a study on the environment of this...
  • Publication
    Environmental effects on the bright end of the galaxy luminosity function in galaxy clusters
    Context. The dependence of the luminosity function (LF) of cluster galaxies on the evolutionary state of the parent cluster is still an open question, in...
  • Publication
    Episodic star formation in a group of LAEs at z = 5.07
    We are undertaking a search for high-redshift low-luminosity Lyman Alpha sources in the SHARDS (Survey for High-z Absorption Red and Dead Sources) survey. Among...
  • Publication
    Estimations of the magnetic field strength in the torus of IC 5063 using near-infrared polarimetry
    An optically and geometrically thick torus obscures the central engine of active galactic nuclei (AGN) from some lines of sight. From a magnetohydrodynamical...