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General
Our small group is well known and respected internationally for our innovative and important work on various aspects of the structure and evolution of nearby spiral galaxies. We primarily use observations at various wavelengths, exploiting synergies that allow us to answer the most pertinent questions relating to what the main properties of galaxies are, and how galaxies have evolved to their current state. We use imaging and spectroscopy, at UV, optical, infrared, millimetre, and radio wavelengths, fully exploiting observing facilities available to us in Spain, at ESO, or elsewhere, along with state-of-the-art analysis tools. The success of this approach can be measured from the employment opportunities offered to ex-members of the group, from the number and quality of collaborations with leading external scientists, from continued citation of our published work, and from invitations to co-organise or speak at the leading international conferences in the field.
In the last few years our group has put a lot of effort into opening up joint research lines with computer scientists, recognising the paradigm shift that is upon us due to the enormous quantities of data that will soon be produced by facilities such as LSST, Euclid, and SKA. We collaborate with computer scientists and aim to prepare the analysis tools, including detection of structure from noise, correction for scattered light and Galactic cirrus, and the use of machine learning-based techniques, so that once LSST (2020) and Euclid (2023) start releasing their huge data sets, our group is ready to analyse them and extract the science from the oceans of bytes.
Members
Results
- From thermal and non-thermal radio maps of the centre of NGC 1097, we discovered that the massive star formation is quenched by non-thermal effects, including pressure from the magnetic field, cosmic rays and turbulence.
- In the centre of NGC 7742, we found a slightly warped inner disk, and two separate stellar components: an old population that counter-rotates with the gas, and a young one, concentrated to the ring, that co-rotates with the gas.
- We re-analysed our deep IR imaging of thick disks to correct for the extended S4G point spread function (PSF), confirming all our previous results and in particular confirming the significant mass present in the thick disk component.
- Analysing a new high-resolution e-MERLIN 1.5 GHz radio continuum map together with HST and SDSS imaging of NGC 5322, an elliptical galaxy hosting radio jets, we found that the low-luminosity AGN/jet-driven feedback may have quenched the late-time nuclear star formation promptly.
- From MUSE observations of low-surface-brightness Lyman-α emission surrounding faint galaxies at redshifts between 3 and 6 we find that the projected sky coverage approaches 100 per cent.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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WEAVE First Light Observations: Origin and Dynamics of the Shock Front in Stephan's QuintetWe present a detailed study of the large-scale shock front in Stephan's Quintet, a by-product of past and ongoing interactions. Using integral-field spectroscopy from the new William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE), recent 144 MHz observations from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey, and archival data from the Very LargeArnaudova, M. I. et al.
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122024 -
CAVITY: Calar Alto Void Integral-field Treasury surveY: I. First public data releaseThe Calar Alto Void Integral-field Treasury surveY (CAVITY) is a legacy project aimed at characterising the population of galaxies inhabiting voids, which are the most under-dense regions of the cosmic web, located in the Local Universe. This paper describes the first public data release (DR1) of CAVITY, comprising science-grade optical data cubesGarcía-Benito, Rubén et al.
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112024 -
First Detection of Molecular Gas in the Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxy Malin 1After over three decades of unsuccessful attempts, we report the first detection of molecular gas emission in Malin 1, the largest spiral galaxy observed to date, and one of the most iconic giant low surface brightness galaxies. Using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, we detect significant 12CO (J = 1–0) emission in the galaxy's centralGalaz, Gaspar et al.
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112024 -
CLOUDY modeling suggests a diversity of ionization mechanisms for diffuse extraplanar gasContext. The ionization of diffuse gas located far above the energetic midplane OB stars poses a challenge to the commonly accepted notion that radiation from OB stars is the primary ionization source for gas in galaxies. Aims. We investigated the sources of ionizing radiation, specifically leaking midplane H II regions and/or in situ hot low-massRautio, R. P. V. et al.
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112024 -
The CAVITY Project: Spatially-Resolved and Characteristic Properties of Galaxies Derived Using pyPipe3DWe present the analysis using pyPipe3D of a sample of 208 galaxies from the CAVITY project , that includes: (i) a description of the processes performed by this pipeline, (ii) the data model adopted to store the spatially resolved properties, and (iii) a catalog comprising integrated and characteristics properties, and the slope of radial gradientsSánchez, S. F. et al.
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102024 -
Gas flows in the central region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4593 with MUSEContext. Understanding how gas flows into galactic centres, fuels the active galactic nucleus (AGN), and is in turn expelled back through feedback processes is of great importance to appreciate the role AGN play in the growth and evolution of galaxies. Aims. We use Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer-adaptive optics (MUSE-AO) optical spectra of theBaki, P. et al.
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102024 -
Retrieval of the physical parameters of galaxies from WEAVE-StePS-like data using machine learningContext. The William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) is a new, massively multiplexing spectrograph that allows us to collect about one thousand spectra over a 3 square degree field in one observation. The WEAVE Stellar Population Survey (WEAVE-StePS) in the next 5 years will exploit this new instrument to obtain high-S/NAngthopo, J. et al.
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102024 -
Euclid preparation: XLIII. Measuring detailed galaxy morphologies for Euclid with machine learningThe Euclid mission is expected to image millions of galaxies at high resolution, providing an extensive dataset with which to study galaxy evolution. Because galaxy morphology is both a fundamental parameter and one that is hard to determine for large samples, we investigate the application of deep learning in predicting the detailed morphologiesEuclid Collaboration et al.
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92024 -
RMS asymmetry: a robust metric of galaxy shapes in images with varied depth and resolutionStructural disturbances, such as galaxy mergers or instabilities, are key candidates for driving galaxy evolution, so it is important to detect and quantify galaxies hosting these disturbances spanning a range of masses, environments, and cosmic times. Traditionally, this is done by quantifying the asymmetry of a galaxy as part of the concentrationSazonova, Elizaveta et al.
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92024 -
Gas-phase metallicity for the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7130Metallicity measurements in galaxies can provide valuable clues about galaxy evolution. One of the mechanisms postulated for metallicity redistribution in galaxies is gas flows induced by active galactic nuclei (AGNs), but the details of this process remain elusive. We report the discovery of a positive radial gradient in the gas-phase metallicityAmiri, A. et al.
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92024 -
CAVITY, Calar Alto Void Integral-field Treasury surveY and project extensionWe have learnt in the last decades that the majority of galaxies belong to high density regions interconnected in a sponge-like fashion. This large-scale structure is characterised by clusters, filaments, and walls, where most galaxies concentrate, but also under-dense regions called voids. The void regions and the galaxies within represent anSánchez-Menguiano, L. et al.
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92024 -
Deriving the star formation histories of galaxies from spectra with simulation-based inferenceHigh-resolution galaxy spectra encode information about the stellar populations within galaxies. The properties of the stars, such as their ages, masses, and metallicities, provide insights into the underlying physical processes that drive the growth and transformation of galaxies over cosmic time. We explore a simulation-based inference (SBI)Iglesias-Navarro, Patricia et al.
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92024 -
LeMMINGs. Multiwavelength constraints on the co-existence of nuclear star clusters and AGN in nucleated galaxiesThe relation between nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and the growth of the central supermassive black holes (SMBHs), as well as their connection to the properties of the host galaxies, is crucial for understanding the evolution of galaxies. Recent observations have revealed that about 10 per cent of nucleated galaxies host hybrid nuclei, consisting ofDullo, B. T. et al.
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82024 -
LIGHTS. Survey Overview and a Search for Low Surface Brightness Satellite GalaxiesWe present an overview of the LBT Imaging of Galactic Halos and Tidal Structures survey, which currently includes 25 nearby galaxies that are on average ∼1 mag fainter than the Milky Way, and a catalog of 54 low central surface brightness (24 < μ 0,g /mag arcsec ‑2 < 28) satellite galaxy candidates, most of which were previously uncatalogued. TheZaritsky, Dennis et al.
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82024 -
The CAVITY project: The spatially resolved stellar population properties of galaxies in voidsThe Universe is shaped as a web-like structure, formed by clusters, filaments, and walls that leave large low number-density volumes in between named voids. Galaxies in voids have been found to be of a later type, bluer, less massive, and to have a slower evolution than galaxies in denser environments (filaments and walls). However, the effect ofConrado, Ana M. et al.
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72024 -
Morphology and Kinematics of the Gas in M51: How Interaction with NGC 5195 Has Molded the Structure of Its ArmsThe Whirlpool Galaxy is a well-studied grand design galaxy with two major spiral arms, and a large satellite NGC 5195. The arms both show long uniform sections with perturbations ("kinks" or sharp turns) in specific regions. Comparing the two arms shows a small radial offset between the main kinked regions. We analyzed the morphology and also theFont, Joan et al.
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52024 -
The wide-field, multiplexed, spectroscopic facility WEAVE: Survey design, overview, and simulated implementationWEAVE, the new wide-field, massively multiplexed spectroscopic survey facility for the William Herschel Telescope, saw first light in late 2022. WEAVE comprises a new 2-deg field-of-view prime-focus corrector system, a nearly 1000-multiplex fibre positioner, 20 individually deployable 'mini' integral field units (IFUs), and a single large IFUJin, Shoko et al.
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52024 -
Ultra-deep imaging of NGC 1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4 to unravel their originsA number of scenarios have been proposed to explain the low velocity dispersion (and hence possible absence of dark matter) of the low surface brightness galaxies NGC 1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4. Most of the proposed mechanisms are based on the removal of dark matter via the interaction of these galaxies with other objects. A common feature of theseGolini, Giulia et al.
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42024 -
Bar properties as a function of wavelength: a local baseline with S<SUP>4</SUP>G for high-redshift studiesThe redshift evolution of bars is an important signpost of the dynamic maturity of disc galaxies. To characterize the intrinsic evolution safe from band-shifting effects, it is necessary to gauge how bar properties vary locally as a function of wavelength. We investigate bar properties in 16 nearby galaxies from the Spitzer Survey of StellarMenéndez-Delmestre, Karín et al.
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22024 -
Radio Jet Feedback on the Inner Disk of Virgo Spiral Galaxy Messier 58Spitzer spectral maps reveal a disk of highly luminous, warm (>150 K) H 2 in the center of the massive spiral galaxy Messier 58, which hosts a radio-loud active galactic nucleus (AGN). The inner 2.6 kpc of the galaxy appears to be overrun by shocks from the radio jet cocoon. Gemini NIRI imaging of the H 2 1–0 S(1) emission line, Atacama LargeOgle, Patrick M. et al.
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22024
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Discovered: the most distant barred spiral galaxy (until now)Advertised on