Spiral Galaxies: Evolution and Consequences

    General
    Description

    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.

    Principal investigator
    Project staff
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.

    Related publications

    • 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 evolution, including baryonic feedback, tidal interactions, and ram pressure stripping. However, some of the key parameters of dwarf galaxies, which help trace the effects of these processes, are
      Watkins, A. E. et al.

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      5
      2023
      Citations
      6
    • Evidence for globular cluster collapse after a dwarf-dwarf merger: A potential nuclear star cluster in formation
      Direct observational evidence for the creation of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) is needed to support the proposed scenarios for their formation. We analysed the dwarf galaxy UGC 7346, located in the peripheral regions of the Virgo Cluster, to highlight a series of properties that indicate the formation of a NSC caught in its earlier stages. First
      Román, J. et al.

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      3
      2023
      Citations
      4
    • A giant umbrella-like stellar stream around the tidal ring galaxy NGC 922
      Context. Tidal ring galaxies (TRGs) are rarely observed in the local universe due to their intrinsically transient nature. The tidal ring structures are the result of strong interactions between gas-rich stellar disks and smaller galactic systems, and do not last longer than ∼500 Myr. Therefore, these are perfect scenarios in which to look for the
      Martínez-Delgado, David et al.

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      1
      2023
      Citations
      12
    • Prospects for future studies using deep imaging: analysis of individual Galactic cirrus filaments
      The presence of Galactic cirrus is an obstacle for studying both faint objects in our Galaxy and low surface brightness extragalactic structures. With the aim of studying individual cirrus filaments in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 data, we develop techniques based on machine learning and neural networks that allow one to isolate
      Smirnov, Anton A. et al.

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      3
      2023
      Citations
      8
    • Star formation in outer rings of S0 galaxies. V. UGC 4599: An S0 with gas probably accreted from a filament
      Aims: Though S0 galaxies are usually thought to be `red and dead', they often demonstrate weak star formation organised in ring structures and located in their outer disks. We try to clarify the nature of this phenomenon and its difference from star formation in spiral galaxies. The nearby moderate-luminosity S0 galaxy UGC 4599 is studied here
      Sil'chenko, O. et al.

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      1
      2023
      Citations
      5
    • First detection of the outer edge of an AGN accretion disc: very fast multiband optical variability of NGC 4395 with GTC/HiPERCAM and LT/IO:O
      We present fast (~200 s sampling) $\it ugriz$ photometry of the low -mass AGN NGC 4395 with the Liverpool Telescope, followed by very fast (3 s sampling) u s, g s, r s, i s, and z s simultaneous monitoring with HiPERCAM on the 10.4m GTC. These observations provide the fastest ever AGN multiband photometry and very precise lag measurements. Unlike
      McHardy, I. M. et al.

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      3
      2023
      Citations
      10
    • The Isaac Newton Telescope Monitoring Survey of Local Group Dwarf Galaxies. V. The Star Formation History of Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular Galaxy Derived from Long-period Variable Stars
      We conducted an optical monitoring survey of the Sagittarius dwarf irregular galaxy (SagDIG) during the period of 2016 June-2017 October, using the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescopeat La Palama. Our goal was to identify long-period variable stars (LPVs), namely, asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs) and red supergiant stars, to obtain the star formation
      Parto, Tahere et al.

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      1
      2023
      Citations
      3
    • Launching the VASCO Citizen Science Project
      The Vanishing & Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations (VASCO) project investigates astronomical surveys spanning a time interval of 70 years, searching for unusual and exotic transients. We present herein the VASCO Citizen Science Project, which can identify unusual candidates driven by three different approaches: hypothesis
      Laaksoharju, Mikael et al.

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      10
      2022
      Citations
      4
    • Linking star formation thresholds and truncations in the thin and thick disks of the low-mass galaxy UGC 7321
      Thin and thick disks are found in most spiral galaxies, yet their formation scenarios remain uncertain. Whether thick disks form through slow or fast, internal or environmental, processes is unclear. The physical origin of outer truncations in thin and thick disks, observed as a drop in optical and near-infrared (NIR) surface brightness profiles
      Díaz-García, S. et al.

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      11
      2022
      Citations
      7
    • Cloud-scale radio surveys of star formation and feedback in Triangulum Galaxy M 33: VLA observations
      Studying the interplay between massive star formation and the interstellar medium (ISM) is paramount to understand the evolution of galaxies. Radio continuum (RC) emission serves as an extinction-free tracer of both massive star formation and the energetic components of the ISM. We present a multiband RC survey of the Local Group galaxy M 33 down
      Tabatabaei, F. S. et al.

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      12
      2022
      Citations
      9
    • The edges of galaxies: Tracing the limits of star formation
      The outskirts of galaxies have been studied from multiple perspectives for the past few decades. However, it is still unknown if all galaxies have clear-cut edges similar to everyday objects. We address this question by developing physically motivated criteria to define the edges of galaxies. Based on the gas density threshold required for star
      Chamba, Nushkia et al.

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      11
      2022
      Citations
      19
    • How to write and develop your astronomy research paper
      Writing is a vital component of a modern career in scientific research. But how to write correctly and effectively is often not included in the training that young astronomers receive from their supervisors and departments. We offer a step-by-step guide to tackle this deficiency, published as a set of two Perspectives. In the first, we addressed
      Knapen, Johan H. et al.

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      9
      2022
      Citations
      2
    • How to plan your astronomy research paper in ten steps
      Scientific writing is an important skill for a career as a professional astrophysicist. However, very few researchers receive any formal training in how to write scientific research papers of high quality in an efficient manner. This Perspective is the first of a two-part self-help guide to scientific writing to address this skills gap. This part
      Chamba, Nushkia et al.

      Advertised on:

      9
      2022
      Citations
      2
    • Extragalactic Magnetism with SOFIA (SALSA Legacy Program). III. First Data Release and On-the-fly Polarization Mapping Characterization
      We describe the data processing of the Survey on extragALactic magnetiSm with SOFIA (SALSA Legacy Program). This first data release presents 33% (51.34 hr out of 155.7 hr, including overheads) of the total awarded time from 2020 January to 2021 December. Our observations were performed using the newly implemented on-the-fly mapping (OTFMAP)
      Lopez-Rodriguez, Enrique et al.

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      9
      2022
      Citations
      18
    • Preparing for low surface brightness science with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Characterization of tidal features from mock images
      Tidal features in the outskirts of galaxies yield unique information about their past interactions and are a key prediction of the hierarchical structure formation paradigm. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is poised to deliver deep observations for potentially millions of objects with visible tidal features, but the inference of galaxy interaction
      Martin, G. et al.

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      6
      2022
      Citations
      39
    • Stellar masses, sizes, and radial profiles for 465 nearby early-type galaxies: An extension to the Spitzer survey of stellar structure in Galaxies (S<SUP>4</SUP>G)
      Context. The Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S 4G) is a detailed study of over 2300 nearby galaxies in the near-infrared (NIR), which has been critical to our understanding of the detailed structures of nearby galaxies. Because the sample galaxies were selected only using radio-derived velocities, however, the survey favored late
      Watkins, A. E. et al.

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      4
      2022
      Citations
      13
    • The multifarious ionization sources and disturbed kinematics of extraplanar gas in five low-mass galaxies
      Aims: We investigate the origin of the extraplanar diffuse ionized gas (eDIG) and its predominant ionization mechanisms in five nearby (17-46 Mpc) low-mass (10 9-10 10 M ⊙) edge-on disk galaxies: ESO 157-49, ESO 469-15, ESO 544-27, IC 217, and IC 1553. Methods: We acquired Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integral field spectroscopy and
      Rautio, R. P. V. et al.

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      3
      2022
      Citations
      12
    • The Seventeenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Complete Release of MaNGA, MaStar, and APOGEE-2 Data
      This paper documents the seventeenth data release (DR17) from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys; the fifth and final release from the fourth phase (SDSS-IV). DR17 contains the complete release of the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey, which reached its goal of surveying over 10,000 nearby galaxies. The complete release
      Abdurro'uf et al.

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      4
      2022
      Citations
      666
    • Implications for galaxy formation models from observations of globular clusters around ultradiffuse galaxies
      We present an analysis of Hubble Space Telescope observations of globular clusters (GCs) in six ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the Coma cluster, a sample that represents UDGs with large effective radii (R e), and use the results to evaluate competing formation models. We eliminate two significant sources of systematic uncertainty in the
      Saifollahi, Teymoor et al.

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      4
      2022
      Citations
      33
    • LeMMINGs - IV. The X-ray properties of a statistically complete sample of the nuclei in active and inactive galaxies from the Palomar sample
      All 280 of the statistically complete Palomar sample of nearby (<120 Mpc) galaxies δ > 20° have been observed at 1.5 GHz as part of the LeMMINGs e-MERLIN legacy survey. Here, we present Chandra X-ray observations of the nuclei of 213 of these galaxies, including a statistically complete sub-set of 113 galaxies in the declination range 40° <δ < 65°
      Williams, D. R. A. et al.

      Advertised on:

      3
      2022
      Citations
      11

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