The environment as a driver of galaxy evolution with the miniJPAS survey

TL;DR

This study uses miniJPAS survey data to analyze how environment influences galaxy evolution, revealing that dense regions host older, redder, and less star-forming galaxies, especially within galaxy clusters.

Contribution

It introduces a new automated tool for analyzing miniJPAS data and provides empirical evidence of environment-driven differences in galaxy properties and star formation histories.

Findings

Redder, denser regions are older and more metal-rich.

Galaxy clusters contain more red, quiescent galaxies in their inner regions.

Environment significantly influences galaxy evolution, especially in high-density areas.

Abstract

This thesis aims at discerning the effect of environment on galaxy evolution and on the properties of galaxies, using the data from the miniJPAS survey, a 1~deg$^2$ survey that uses the same photometric filter system as the incoming J-PAS survey, which is already in its scientific verification phase. This system is composed of 56 narrow-band filters that provide an spectral resolution comparable to low-resolution spectroscopy. We study the effect of environment using two approaches. First, we study the spatially resolved galaxies from miniJPAS. Secondly, we studied the galaxy population in the most massive galaxy cluster detected in the miniJPAS footprint, that is, the cluster mJPC2470-1771. We have developed a tool that automatises all the required processes for the analysis of the data. After probing the accuracy and reliability of the photmetry obtained with our tool, we apply it to a miniJPAS sample of spatially resolved galaxies, divided into four sub-samples according to their spectral-type (red/quiescent and blue/star forming), and environment (field or galaxy group). We find that redder, denser regions are usually older, more metal rich, and show lower values of the intensity of the star formation rate and the specific star formation rate than bluer and less dense regions. Regarding the mJPC2470-1771 cluster, our results point that more massive, redder and older galaxies typically populate the inner regions of the cluster. As a conclusion, our results suggest that galaxies in clusters are formed at a similar epoch, but have experienced different star formation histories. We conclude that the environment plays a role on galaxy evolution, but it is mainly reflected through the galaxy populations found in high density environments, such as galaxy clusters and groups, where the fraction of red, quiescent galaxies is larger in comparison to the field.