First, the baryonic content of simulated halos of virial masses between 5 x 10^{9} M_{\odot}$ to 5 x 10^{12} M_{\odot}$ in the APOSTLE project is examined in the context of the missing baryon problem. Baryonic particles in APOSTLE can be either stars or gas. Non-star-forming gas, or the circumgalactic medium (CGM) is further classified by temperature into the Cool CGM (CCGM, T < 10^{5} K), or the Warm-Hot CGM (WHCGM, T > 10^{5} K). APOSTLE halos are found to contain less than 60% of the expected mass of baryons (f_{b} = Ω{b}/Ω{m}, M_{b} = f_{b} x M_{200}) within their virial radius. The WHCGM contains 29% ± 10%, the CCGM 12% ± 5%, and the stars and star-forming gas 19% ± 5%. The metal content of the same halos is analyzed, and compared to the total metals produced by the stars within the virial radius. Over two thirds of the produced metals are retained within the halo, with 14% ± 3% in the WHCGM, 13% ± 4% in the CCGM, and 43% ± 9% in the stars and star-forming gas. Next, we focus on the overall distribution of matter within a 3Mpc radius from the Milky Way. Using the trends in APOSTLE volumes, I quantify both the ellipticity and orientation of this spatial distribution using the principal axes of the inertia tensor of the positions of these galaxies. The Zone of Avoidance has little impact on this result, and the short axis is aligned with that of the Supergalactic Plane, and is perpendicular to the vector separating the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. APOSTLE local group analogues are found to be similarly anisotropic, and like in the observed Local Group, the minor axis of that distribution is found to be perpendicular to the vector separating the two primaries. The angular momentum of the stellar disk shows weak alignment with the minor axis of the field galaxy distribution. In addition the simulations also suggest that the angular momenta of the two primary dark-matter halos tend to be anti-aligned. Additionally, stellar disks tend to orient themselves in the same direction as their halo. / Graduate

Spatially-resolved studies of nearby star-forming galaxies are essential to understand various physical and chemical phenomena at play in the interstellar medium in the galaxies, and consequently to obtain a comprehensive picture of galaxy formation and evolution. In this thesis, I perform spatially-resolved analyses of chemical abundances and star-formation in nearby star-forming galaxies - blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) and spiral galaxies. I map various properties of H II regions and the surrounding gas within three BCDs, using integral field spectroscopic (IFS) data from the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph-North. While answering questions related to chemical homogeneity, ionisation mechanisms and stellar populations within BCDs, I address more profound issues, which go beyond the characterisation of studied BCDs and aim to explain global phenomena with broader implications. The BCD NGC 4449 hosts a metal-poor central star-forming region, which I explain by various scenarios related to the interplay between star-formation, metal-distribution and gas dynamics within galaxies. The BCD NGC 4670 shows an unusual negative relationship between the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio and oxygen abundance at spatially-resolved scales. I explore this relation with chemical evolution models and by comparison to other star-forming galaxies and suggest that nitrogen enrichment, variations in star-formation efficiency or hydrodynamical effects may be responsible for the observed relation. For another BCD, SBS 1415+437, the spatially-resolved abundances on average agree with the integrated abundance, implying that low-redshift spatially-resolved results may be directly compared with unresolved high-redshift results. I study spiral galaxies to address long-standing issues related to the reliability of metallicity calibrators and the Schmidt Law of star-formation. Using IFS data of twenty-four spiral galaxies taken with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, I find that the current strong-line metallicity calibrators for H II regions are unsuitable for regions dominated by diffuse ionised gas (DIG). I devise new recipes for estimating the metal-content of the DIG. For another set of nine spiral galaxies, I use multi-wavelength data to show that the spatially-resolved Schmidt relation is very sensitive to the consideration of diffuse background, which is a component unrelated to the current star-formation. Removal of this component from the SFR tracers and the atomic gas results in similar local and global Schmidt relation. To conclude, the spatially-resolved analyses presented in this thesis have led to discoveries and further questions, which I will address in my ongoing and future works.

Les propriétés du milieu interstellaire (MIS) influencent fortement l’environnement et les processus menant à la formation d’étoiles qui, à son tour, dicte l’évolution d’une galaxie. Les galaxies naines du Groupe Local sont de parfaits laboratoires pour comprendre comment le contenu en métaux (ou métallicité) du MIS affecte l’interaction entre le gaz, la poussière et les étoiles. Mon travail de thèse porte sur les propriétés physiques des régions HII et du gaz diffus ionisé de la galaxie naine IC10, de métallicité 1/3 solaire. La proximité de cette galaxie (d=700kpc) permet l’analyse du MIS à différentes échelles spatiales: des nuages brillants compacts (25pc) au corps entier de la galaxie formant des étoiles (650pc). Afin de mesurer les propriétés physiques du MIS, j’ai modélisé les raies d’émission en infrarouge observées avec Spitzer et Herschel grâce à des modèles de photoionisation et de photodissociation. Je présente une exploration complète de plusieurs méthodes pour déterminer, de manière la plus fiable et selon les contraintes disponibles, les propriétés du MIS à diverses échelles. J’ai contraint les propriétés des nuages compacts les plus brillants dans IC10 et montré que l’émission à plus grande échelle (300pc) est dominée par celle de ces nuages. Enfin, je démontre le besoin d’un modèle à plusieurs composantes pour reproduire les observations dans leur ensemble. / The properties of the Interstellar Medium (ISM) strongly influence the environment and processes that lead to star-formation, which in turn, drives the evolution of a galaxy. Dwarf galaxies in the Local Group are perfect laboratories to investigate how the metal-poor ISM affects the interplay between gas, dust and stars. In this thesis, I investigate the properties of the HII regions and the diffuse ionized gas of the nearby dwarf galaxy IC10, which has a metallicity of 1/3 solar. Its proximity (d=700 kpc) enables the analysis on different spatial scales: from the compact clumps (~25 pc) to the whole star-forming body of the galaxy (~650pc). In order to measure the physical properties of the ISM, I model the infrared emission lines observed with Spitzer and Herschel with photoionization and photodissociation models. I present an extensive exploration of different methods to determine the most reliable ISM properties, based on the available constraints. I determined the properties of the brightest star-forming clumps within the galaxy and show that the emission at large scales (~300 pc) is dominated by that of the compact, bright clumps that lie within the region. I further demonstrate the need for a multi-component model to fully reproduce the observations.

Crystalline systems formed with transition metal elements tend to exhibit strong magneto-structural coupling that gives rise to unusual but exciting physical phenomena in these materials. In this dissertation, we present our findings from the studies of structural and physical properties of single phase compounds Co2MnSi, Ni16Mn6Si7 and Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2. In addition, the stability of a Ni2MnSi composition in a multiphase system is discussed by both theoretical and experimental approaches. All the works have been conducted with a focus on explaining the fundamental behaviors of these systems that have not been adequately addressed by other studies in the literature. We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of the half-metallic Heusler compound, Co2MnSi to address disorder occupancies and magnetic interactions in the material. Contrary to previous studies, our neutron diffraction refinement of the polycrystalline sample reveals almost identical amount of Mn and Co antisite disorders of ~6.5% and ~7.6%, respectively which is also supported explicitly by our first-principles calculations on the system with defects. A reduction of the net moment of Co2MnSi due to an antiferromagnetic interaction introduced by disordered Mn is observed by our theoretical study. The neutron refinements at 298 K, 100 K, and 4 K further supports such reduction of moments. The work also reports the growth of single crystal by the Czochralski method and determination of a Curie temperature of ~1014 K measured by both the electrical resistivity and dilatometry measurement. Studies of a Ni2MnSi Heusler system reveal two new systems i.e., the Ni16Mn6Si7 G-phase and the Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2 based Laves phase with complex crystal structures. These systems exhibit strong magneto-structural coupling that could lead to interesting physical behaviors. The lack of thorough understanding of the properties of these materials inspired us to undertake the present studies. We address the geometrically frustrated two-dimensional magnetic structure and spin canted weak ferromagnetic behavior of Ni16Mn6Si7. Our magnetization and specific heat measurements on a Czochralski grown single crystal sample depicts the paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition at 197 K, and a second phase change at 50 K. Furthermore, a gradual drop of zero field cooled magnetic susceptibility is observed below 6 K that is associated with the spin freezing effect. The neutron diffraction on the polycrystalline powder samples at the temperatures of interest reveals that the antiferromagnetism is governed by the magnetic ordering of the Mn ions in the octahedral network. Below the Néel temperature of 197 K, the 2/3 of Mn atom moments form a two-dimensional magnetic arrangement, while the 1/3 moments remain geometrically frustrated. The phase transition at 50 K is found to be associated with the reorientation of the 2D moments to a canted antiferromagnetic state and development of ordering of the frustrated paramagnetic ions. Magnetization measurements as a function of temperature and magnetic field in principal directions, permit to determine the anisotropic magnetic behavior of Ni16Mn6Si7 in terms of the magnetic structure obtained by the neutron diffraction measurements. We also report an irreversible smeared spin-flop type transition for the system at a higher magnetic field. The diffuse scattering due to the short-range ordering is a commonly occurring phenomenon in Laves phase materials. The occurrence of such distinct atomic arrangement can considerably influence the physical behavior of the material. Nevertheless, no structural reconstruction of such atomic distribution in Laves phase has ever been reported in the literature. In this work, we present the structural ordering, and the associated physical behavior of an antiferromagnetic Ni-Mn-Si Laves phase with a composition Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2. The possibility of unique short-range ordering in the material is first concluded based on our single crystal diffraction analysis. With the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis, our work resolves the distinct atomic ordering of the Laves phase system. The investigations reveal the origin of the short-range ordering to arise from a unique arrangement between Ni and Si. The study also presents the atomic resolution mapping of the Si atoms which has never been reported by any previous studies. With further electrical conductivity measurement, we find one of the consequences of the unique ordering reflected in a semiconducting like temperature dependence of the compound. The neutron diffraction at 298 K suggests Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2 to be a strong antiferromagnetic system, which is further supported by the successive magnetic susceptibility measurement. The Néel temperature is determined to be 550 K. We also address the stability of the hypothetical ferromagnetic Heusler compound Ni2MnSi which has been proposed to be a stable system by numerous theoretical studies. Our first-principles work corroborates those studies with a negative formation enthalpy of -1.46 eV/formula unit. However, after numerous attempts to synthesize the composition, we conclude that a single phase Heusler Ni2MnSi compound cannot form under ambient conditions. Our results show that the system crystallizes as a mixture of the two Ni-Mn-Si compounds, i.e., the Ni16Mn6Si7 type G-phase and Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2 based Laves phase. Our work provides a possible explanation for the unstable Ni2MnSi Heusler compound with the calculation of formation enthalpy of the hypothetical Heusler system in terms of the computed energies of the neighboring phases Ni16Mn6Si7 and Mn(Ni0.6Si0.4)2. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

I use single-epoch, SDSS spectroscopy of RR Lyraes identified in the Catalina survey to separate the spectra into same-temperature groups. Then I draw temperature-phase diagrams of the groups. I find shocked stars, improperly phased stars, low amplitude stars, and a few that are more likely eclipsing binaries. The RR Lyraes are then given precise metallicities by measurements of the CaII K and H-β, H-γ, and H-δ lines. This leads to better distance measurements, which allow me to confirm a distinction between the inner and outer galactic halo.

The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) consist of a pair of galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which are located at a distance of 50 kpc and 60 kpc, with stellar masses of 1010 M and 109 M , respectively. Morphologically they are categorized as irregular type galaxies. The MCs are gas rich and metal poor (Z=0.008 for LMC, and 0.004 for SMC) as compared to the Milky Way (MW), and have active star-forming regions. Their proximity and location at high galactic latitude enable us to resolve their individual populations as well as detect faint stellar populations. It is well known that the MCs are interacting with each other, as well as with the MW. The interaction is supported by the presence of the Magellanic Bridge and the Magellanic Stream. The evolved stellar populations in the MCs help us to understand their evolution and interaction process. The MCs host both Population I as well as Population II stars. This extended range of star formation is a valuable source of information to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies in general, and the MCs in particular. Evolved stellar popu-lation means the stars that have evolved o the main sequence and the giants, such as red giants (RGs), red clump stars, and asymptotic giant branch stars. There is a dominant population of evolved stars present in the MCs, in star clusters as well as in the eld. The aim of the thesis is to study the evolved stellar populations for one of the component of the MCs, the LMC. The study is primarily divided into two parts. (1) Study of sparse star clusters in the LMC: To increase our understanding of sparse star clusters in the LMC, with well estimated parameters, using deep Washington photometric data for 45 LMC clusters. (2) To estimate a metallicity map of LMC: In order to understand the metallicity variation across the galaxy. This is done by creating a high spatial resolution metallicity map of the LMC, using red giant branch (RGB) stars, with the help of photometric data and calibrated using spectroscopic studies of RGs in eld and star clusters. The introduction to the thesis study along with the aim are described in Chapter 1 of the thesis. The three sets of photometric data used for this study are described in Chapter 2. The data sets are: CT1 Washington photometric data for 45 star clusters within the LMC, the VI photometric data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment Phase-III survey (OGLE III), and the Magellanic Cloud Photometric Survey (MCPS). Study of sparse star clusters in the LMC: A systematic study is per-formed to analyse the 45 cluster candidates, to estimate their parameters (radius, reddening, and age) using the main-sequence turn-o (MSTO), as well as the evolved portion of the colour{magnitude diagram (CMD). The basic parameters were estimated for 33 genuine clusters, whereas the other 12 cluster candidates have been classi ed as possible clusters/asterisms. The study of 33 star clusters are presented in Chapter 3. These clus-ters are categorized as genuine star clusters based on their strong density enhancement and cluster features with respect to their surrounding eld regions. Out of the 33 clusters, 23 are identi ed as single clusters and 10 are found to be members of double clusters. Detailed discussions of all the individual clusters are presented. The estimated parameters for the single and double clusters are listed in two di erent tables. About 50% of the clusters are in the age range 100{300 Myr, the rest of them being older or younger. Comparison with previous age estimates shows some agreement as well as some deviation. The remaining 12 clusters which could not be categorized as genuine star clusters are studied in Chapter 4. These clusters have poor (/suspi-cious) density enhancement and cluster features when compared to their surrounding elds. It is important to study such cluster candidates, as these objects probe the lower limit of the cluster mass function. Detailed discussion on these individual objects are presented and their estimated parameters are tabulated in this chapter. A detailed discussion based on the study of all the 45 inconspicuous clusters is presented in this chapter, including the estimated sizes (radii 2{10 pc), reddening with respect to eld, and location in the LMC. The mass limit estimated for genuine clusters is found to be 1000 M , whereas for possible clusters/asterisms it is few 100 M , using synthetic CMDs. The study of sparse clusters enlarged the number of objects con rmed as genuine star clusters (33) and estimated their fundamental parameters. The study emphasizes that the sizes and masses of the studied sample are found to be similar to that of open clusters in the MW. Thus, this study adds to the lower end of cluster mass distribution in the LMC, suggesting that the LMC, apart from hosting rich clusters, also has formed small, less massive open clusters in the 100{300 Myr age range. The 12 cases of possible clusters/asterisms are worthy of attention, in the sense that they can throw light on the survival time of such objects in the LMC. Photometric metallicity map of the LMC using RGB stars: A metallic-ity map of the LMC is estimated using OGLE III and MCPS photometric data. This is a rst of its kind map of metallicity up to a radius of 4{5 de-grees, derived using photometric data and calibrated using spectroscopic data of RGB stars. The RGB is identi ed in the V, (V I) CMDs of small areal subregions of varying sizes in both data sets. The slope of the RGB is used as an indicator of the average metallicity of a subregion, and this RGB slope is calibrated to metallicity using spectroscopic data for eld and cluster RGs in selected subregions. The metallicity map estimated using OGLE III photometric data is presented in Chapter 5. A method to identify the RGB of small subre-gions within the LMC and estimate its slope by using a consistent and automated method was developed. The technique is robust and indepen-dent of reddening and extinction. The details of calibrating the RGB slopes to metallicities, using previous spectroscopic results of RGs in eld and star clusters are presented. The OGLE III metallicity maps are pre sented, based on four cut-o criteria to separate regions with good ts. The OGLE III map has substantial coverage of the bar, the eastern and western LMC, but does not cover the northern and southern regions. The OGLE III metallicity map shows the bar region to be metal rich whereas the eastern and western regions to be relatively metal poor. The mean metallicity is estimated for three di erent regions within the LMC. For the complete LMC the mean [Fe/H] is = 0.39 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.10); for the bar region it is = 0.35 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.9); and for the outer LMC it is = 0.46 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.11). The metallicity histogram for these di erent regions are also estimated. A radial metallicity gradient is estimated in the de-projected plane of the LMC. The metallicity gradient is seen to remain almost constant in the bar region (till a radius of 2.5 kpc) and has a shallow gradient of 0.066 0.006 dex kpc 1 beyond that till 4 kpc. In Chapter 6 the metallicity map based on MCPS photometric data is estimated. The MCPS data covers more of the northern and south-ern LMC (less of eastern and western regions) and is important to be analysed in order to reveal the metallicity trend of the overall disk. The systematic di erences between the lter systems of MCPS and OGLE III are corrected, and the MCPS slopes are then calibrated using the OGLE III slope{metallicity relation. The MCPS metallicity maps are presented, based on four cut-o criteria to separate regions with good ts. The bar region is found to be metal rich as was found using OGLE III data, whereas the northern and southern regions are marginally metal poor. The mean metallicity estimated for the complete LMC is = 0.37 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.12); and for the outer LMC it is = 0.41 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.11). The metallicity histogram for these di erent regions are estimated and compared with the OGLE III distribution. The metallicity range of the complete LMC is found to be almost similar for both data sets. The metallicity distribution within the bar has a narrow range as found using both data sets. The slight di erence between mean metallicity of outer LMC for the two data sets is attributed to their coverage. We suggest that the northern and southern regions of the LMC could be marginally more metal rich than the eastern and western regions. The metallicity gradient of the LMC disk, estimated from MCPS data is found to be shallow 0.049 0.002 dex kpc 1 till about 4 kpc. We also constructed a metallicity map of outliers using both OGLE III and MCPS data, and identi ed subregions where the mean metallic-ity di ers from the surrounding areas. We suggest further spectroscopic studies in order to assess their physical significance. The detailed conclusion of the thesis and future work are presented in Chapter 7. From the study of sparse star clusters in the LMC, it is concluded that LMC has open cluster like star cluster systems. It is important to include them to understand the cluster formation history (CFH) and their survival time scale. Presently, our understanding of the CFH is dominated by rich clusters. The bar of the LMC is found to be the most metal rich region, and the LMC metallicity gradient though shallow, resembles the gradient seen in spiral galaxies. The gradient is also similar to that found in our Galaxy. The higher metallicity in the bar region might indicate an active bar in the past.

L’évolution des galaxies est un sujet relativement débattu en astronomie extra-galactique, étant donné que la plupart des mécanismes responsables des propriétés observées dans les galaxies (masse, taux de formation d’étoiles, contenu en métaux, moment angulaire) sont encore peu contraints et certains ne sont probablement même pas encore observés. Ma thèse porte sur une analyse de la région entourant les galaxies, connue sous le nom de Milieu Circum Galactique (MCG). Le MCG est à l’interface entreles galaxies et le Milieu Inter Galactique (MIG) et est considéré comme le lieu de prédilection pour les échanges gazeux et énergétiques entre les galaxies et le MIG, ce qui en fait la clé pour une meilleure compréhension de l’évolution des galaxies et du destin des baryons. Je présenterai dans un premier temps l’analyse d’un échantillon de systèmes à forte absorption issuent de la spectroscopie de quasars en absorption qui tracent les régions denses en hydrogène généralement associées au MCG des galaxies.Dans un deuxième temps, je présenterai ma contribution au développement d’une mission ballon embarquant un spectrographe UV, FIREBall-2, spécialement conçu pour observer l’émission faible et diffuse du MCG des galaxies à décalage vers le rouge inférieur à 1. D’un point de vue technique, je présenterai l’étude du composant optique clé de l’instrument: le réseau. D’un point de vue modélisation, je décrirai une simulation complète des observations, qui servira à la préparation du vol prévu pour l’Automne 2017notamment en ce qui concerne la sélection des cibles, la stratégie observationelle et le traitement des données. / The evolution of galaxies is a rather hot topic in extra galactic astronomy, as many of the main mechanisms underlying the observed properties of galaxies (mass, star formation rate, metal content, angular momentum) are still poorly constraints and many of them are probably undiscovered yet. My thesis focuses on an analysis of the region surrounding galaxies, known as the Circum Galactic Medium (CGM). The CGMinterfaces the galaxy with the Inter Galactic Medium (IGM) and is thought to be the most active location for gas and energy exchanges (in and out), which makes it a key ingredient towards a better understanding of galaxy evolution and the fate of all baryons. I will present in a first part, the analysis of a sample of strong absorption features based on quasar absorption spectroscopy, that probe the dense neutral hydrogen usually associated with galaxies’ CGM. In a second part, I will present my contribution to the development of a balloon-borne UV spectrograph, FIREBall-2, specifically designed to observe the faint and diffuse emissions from the CGM of galaxies at redshifts below 1. On the technical side, I will present the characterization of the key optical component ofthe instrument: the grating. On the modeling side, I will focus on an end-to-end pixel simulation of the observations to prepare for the upcoming flight, planned for Autumn 2017, in terms of target selection, observational strategy and data analysis.

The Milky Way galaxy, like all spiral galaxies, is surrounded by a roughly spherical distribution of stars called the halo. The halo was largely formed when the galaxy merged with smaller galaxies. The stellar population of the inner halo is dominated by debris from one major such merging event, called the Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage, and the outer halo population is completely built up by several mergers. To properly understand this accretion history, the halo needs to be investigated out to large distances so that as much substructure as possible can be traced. The substructure is expected to leave an imprint in the halo's metallicity structure. In this thesis, we use a catalogue of intrinsically bright stars, giants, to probe the metallicity structure of the halo to large distances. It contains 205,727 stars that all have photometric metallicities from the Pristine survey and distances derived from isochrone fitting, and reaches down to [Fe/H] = -4.0 dex and out to d = 96.16 kpc. Its purity is 90 % and completeness is 67 %. We calculate the distance errors by Monte Carlo simulations and introduce a new cut in colour that is dependent on metallicity to reduce contaminants in the sample. This introduces a metallicity bias in the sample that we can correct for because we coupled metallicity and colour. The correction is done by computing weights for different metallicity bins. The final catalogue allows us to create metallicity distribution functions of the halo as a function of distance. These show us that as heliocentric distance, the distance from the Galactic centre or the Galactic plane increases, the overall metallicity decreases. At the closest distances, the thick disk metallicity peak at -0.7 dex dominates, but as we move further out this smoothly shifts to -1.3 dex and then to -1.6 dex, representing the inner halo, while a peak at -2.2 dex, representing the outer halo, starts to become visible beyond 6 kpc and dominates the metallicity distribution past 26 kpc. These peaks are remnants of merger events in the halo, with the inner halo peak being due to the massive Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage merger and the outer halo peak being due to the many, low-mass and thus low-metallicity galaxies accreted there. We are able to see signals from the Sagittarius stream and Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage's apocentric pile-ups in the metallicity distribution functions, showing that the halo's metallicity changes with not only distance but also sightline. We also detect a diffuse, very metal-poor cloud in the southern footprint that may be an until now unknown structure. This catalogue and its resulting metallicity distribution functions are thus a suitable addition to literature at the metal-poor and distant end, as well as the faint end where e.g. Gaia mission data is unable to provide metallicities and distances. / Vintergatan är, som alla spiralgalaxer, omringad av en ungefärligen sfärisk distribution av stjärnor som kallas halon. Denna halo bildades när galaxen sammansmälte med mindre galaxer. Stjärnpopulationen i den inre halon domineras av stjärnor som kom in med en sådan, väldigt stor, sammanslagning med en annan galax som eter Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage, och den yttre halons stjärnpopulation har helt och hållet byggts upp av sammanslagningar med flera galaxer. För att kunna kartlägga Vintergatans alla sammanslagningar med andra galaxer behöver vi därför undersöka den yttre halon så långt ut som möjligt, för att spåra så mycket substruktur i halon som uppstod till följd av sammanslagningar som möjligt. Sådan substruktur förväntas göra ett avtryck i halons metallicitetsstruktur. I denna masteruppsats används en katalog av intrinsiskt ljusstarka stjärnor, jättar, för att kartlägga halons metallicitetsstruktur till stora avstånd. Katalogen innehåller 205,727 stjärnor som alla har fotometriska metalliciteter från Pristine-undersökningen samt avstånd från isokronanpassning. Den når [Fe/H] = -4.0 dex och d = 96.16 kpc. Mängden jättar i katalogen är 90 % och katalogen behåller 67 % av alla jättar i ursprungskatalogen. Avståndens osäkerhet beräknas med Monte Carlo-simulationer, och det införs ett nytt klipp med färg som är beroende av metallicitet för att undvika kontamination. Detta inför en metallicitetssnedvridning av katalogen som vi kan korrigera eftersom att vi kopplade ihop metallicitet och färg. Korrektionen sker genom att vi beräknar vikter för olika metallicitetsintervall i katalogen. Den slutgiltiga katalogen låter oss skapa metallicitetsdistributioner för halon som beror på avstånd. Dessa distributioner visar oss att när stjärnors avstånd till solen, från galaxens centrum samt från galaxdisken ökar, så minskar den genomsnittliga metalliciteten. Vid väldigt nära avstånd är distributionerna centrerade runt -0.7 dex som motsvarar den tjocka disken, men när avstånden ökar, flyttas denna topp till -1.3 dex och sedan till -1.6 dex, vilket motsvarar den inre halon, samtidigt som en topp vid -2.2 dex, som motsvarar den yttre halon, framträder bortom 6 kpc och dominerar metallicitetsdistributionen för halon bortom 26 kpc. Dessa toppar är kvarlevor efter sammanslagningar mellan Vintergatan och mindre galaxer, där toppen i den inre halon uppstod p.g.a. Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage och toppen i den yttre halon kommer från de många lågmassiva och därmed metallfattiga dvärggalaxer som assimilerats där. Metallicitetsdistributionerna visar signaler från Sagittariusströmmen och Gaia-Enceladus-Sausages apocentriska hopsamlingar, vilket visar att halons metallicitet inte bara beror på avstånd utan även på observationsvinkel. Katalogen visar spår av ett diffust metalfattigt moln i det södra observationsfönstret som potentiellt är en hittills oupptäckt struktur. Denna katalog och dess resulterande metallicitetsdisitributioner är en viktig addering till existerande litteratur i den metallfattiga och avlägsna regimen, samt i den ljussvaga regimen där t.ex. data från Gaiateleskopet inte kan bidra med metallicitets- eller avståndsvärden.

The Milky Way's halo is an approximately spherical distribution of stars surrounding the Galaxy that carries the history of the Milky Way. The outer halo is a Galactic region with long dynamical timescales largely built up by accreted material. Probing its stellar constituents has been historically difficult due to the distances of outer halo stars, making them appear faint. To characterise the distant halo and unravel the history of our galaxy, we thus need to use stars that are intrinsically bright, i.e. giant stars. To draw useful conclusions about the distant halo, these target giants should have metallicity and kinematics information. Therefore a catalogue of distant halo giants with Pristine survey metallicities, Gaia mission data and distances has been created in this work. The cuts used to create this catalogue are made to remove as many dwarf stars as possible and have been tested on a training sample containing spectroscopic metallicities and surface gravities as well as Gaia mission data. Defining giants as being all stars with log(g) &lt; 3.5 dex, we can calculate the purity and completeness of the sample after the cuts have been applied to test which cuts optimise the catalogue. The methods used to cut away the dwarfs are to first plot all stars with positive Gaia parallaxes and fractional parallax uncertainties smaller than 50% in a colour-absolute magnitude diagram and remove all stars from the sample that in this plot populate the main sequence. We then colour-code the colour-apparent magnitude diagram by purity and completeness after this parallax cut has been performed, and select a region in this diagram in which both purity and completeness are maximised, with the final region being (GBP,0 - GRP,0) &gt; 0.8 and G0 &lt; 17.6. The distances to the stars in this region are then computed by comparing their apparent magnitudes to the absolute ones of isochrones. These cuts are then applied to a sample of 6,884,547 stars with Pristine survey and Gaia mission data. The final catalogue is kinematically unbiased and contains 345,303 halo giants. It contains 78% giants and only 4% of giants are erroneously deselected.  With the final sample we are able to probe as deep as 103 kpc into the halo and have created preliminary metallicity distribution functions of different regions of the halo. This sample will be used to further investigate the distant halo metallicity structure and its substructure that was created through merger events.

No description available.