Seminar by Ivanna Langan (CRAL)

Abstract

One of the key questions in astronomy is how galaxies like our own form and evolve. The evolution of galaxies is largely driven by gas flows into and out of galaxies and galaxy mergers. However, observing these processes remains challenging. Gas flows are inherently faint, and galaxy mergers can be difficult to identify due to their complex structure and potential dust obscuration.

In this thesis, I conduct three studies exploring gas flows and galaxy mergers that drive the evolution of (baryonic) matter in galaxies. More specifically, I use (1) optical observations to study the impact of gas flows on star formation and heavy element enrichment histories, (2) submillimeter observations to study the cold gas from which stars form and to search for traces of gas flows, and (3) multi-wavelength observations to study the properties of a serendipitously discovered galaxy merger. The results of this thesis expand our knowledge of galaxy evolution and allow the extragalactic community to leverage these findings with future facilities, further advancing the field.