We conduct a broad investigation about stellar mass and population diagnostics in order to formulate novel constraints related to the formation and evolution of galaxies from a nearby cluster environment. Our work is powered by the use of stellar population models which transform galaxy colours and/or absorption line strengths into estimates of its stellar properties. As input to such models, we assemble an extensive compilation of age and chemical abundance information for Galactic globular clusters. This compilation allows a confident expansion of these models into new regions of parameter space that promise to refine our knowledge of galactic chemical evolution. We then draw upon a state-of-the-art spectroscopic and photometric survey of the Virgo galaxy cluster in order to constrain spatial variations of the stellar ages, metallicities, and masses within its member galaxies, and their dynamical masses. We interpret these data in the context of the histories of star formation, chemical enrichment, and stellar mass assembly to formulate a broad picture of the build-up of this cluster’s content over time. In it, the giant early-type galaxies formed through highly dissipational processes at early times that built up most of their stellar mass and drew significant amounts of dark matter within their optical radii. Conversely, dwarf early-types experienced environmental processes that quenched their star formation during either the early stages of cluster assembly or upon infall at later times. Somewhat perplexing is our finding that the internal dynamics of these galaxies are largely explained by their stellar masses. Lastly, Virgo spirals also suffer from their dense environment, through ram pressure stripping and/or tidal harrassment. In addition to quenching, these effects leave an imprint on their internal dynamical evolution too. Late-type spirals exhibit evidence of having ejected significant amounts of baryons from their inner regions, likely via energetic feedback events. Rich as our picture of the history of the Virgo cluster has become, real progress in our understanding of this system will truly benefit from future high-resolution cosmological and hydrodynamic simulations of this environment. Such simulations are still in their infancy, but the data assembled here should soon provide their most direct validation. / Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-30 23:32:48.575

xlix, 348 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Supernovae Ia are viable standard candles for measuring cosmological distances because of their enormous light output and similar intrinsic brightness. However, dispersion in intrinsic brightness casts doubt on the overall reliability of supernovae as cosmological distance indicators. Moreover, as shown in this thesis, the dependence of peak brightness on host galaxy properties significantly contributes to this dispersion. As a result, there is good reason to doubt that the nearby sample of supernovae Ia is identical to the distant samples, which occur in host galaxies that are billions of years younger. This study explores the validity of supernovae Ia as standard candles by examining regions of nearby galaxies that hosted supernovae and modeling their observational selection function. The approach is two-fold. First, photometry is performed on the stellar population environment of supernovae to characterize that region as a function of supernova type. Then, the observational selection function is simulated to determine the true supernovae production rate of the z < 0.1 redshift limit. We find that, on average, type Ia events occur in redder and older populations; underluminous supernovae Ia occur in regions that seem to be preferentially dusty, whereas normal Ia coming from the same galaxy type occur in a wide range of extinction environments. Furthermore, redder peak colors correspond to redder underlying population colors. This finding implies that dust extinction effects can cause systematic errors in the luminosity calibration of Ia events Finally, a single supernova rate does not adequately describe all supernovae Ia within z < 0.1. A rate of 0.25 SNu describes the population up to z < 0.03, and a much smaller rate, 0.1 SNu or less, describes supernovae past this distance. This finding indicates that observed supernova rates per galaxy remain biased by sample selection effects and that the intrinsic rate is likely uncertain by a factor of 2 to 3. / Committee in charge: Raymond Frey, Chairperson, Physics; James Imamura, Member, Physics; Gregory Bothun, Member, Physics; Stephen Hsu, Member, Physics; James Isenberg, Outside Member, Mathematics

A unique K-band selected high-redshift spectroscopic dataset (UDSz) is exploited to gain further understanding of galaxy evolution at z > 1. Acquired as part of an ESO Large Programme, this thesis presents the reduction and analysis of a sample of ∼ 450 deep optical spectra of a random 1 in 6 sample of the KAB < 23, z > 1 galaxy population. Based on the final reduced dataset, spectrophotometric modelling of the optical spectra and multi-wavelength photometry available for each galaxy is performed using a combination of single and dual component stellar population models. The stellarmass and age estimates provided by the spectrophotometric modelling are exploited throughout the rest of the thesis to investigate the evolution of massive galaxies at z > 1. Focusing on a K-band bright (K < 21.5) sub-sample in the redshift range 1.3 < z < 1.5 the galaxy size-mass relation has been studied in detailed. In agreement with some previous studies it is found that massive, old, early-type galaxies (ETGs) have characteristic radii a factor ~- 1.5 − 3.0 smaller than their local counterparts at a given stellar-mass. Due to the potential errors in spectrophotometric estimates of the stellarmasses at high redshift velocity dispersion measurements are derived for a sub-sample of massive ETGs at z > 1.3 in order to calculate dynamical mass estimates. To date, only a handful of objects at z > 1.3 have individual velocity dispersion estimates in the literature. Here the largest single sample (13 objects) of velocity dispersion measurements at high redshift is presented. The results for the sub-sample of objects with dynamical mass estimates confirm the results based on stellar mass estimates that high redshift massive systems are more compact than their local counterparts. The fraction of K-band bright objects at high redshift that are passively evolving is calculated with specific star-formation rates from the UV rest-frame continuum, [OII] emission and 24μm data. It is concluded that ∼ 58 ± 10% of the K < 21.5, 1.3 < z < 1.5 galaxy population is passively evolving. Various photometric techniques for separating star-forming and passively evolving galaxies are assessed by exploiting the accurate spectral types derived for the UDSz spectroscopic sample. Popular highredshift selection techniques are shown to fail to effectively select complete samples of passive objects with low levels of contamination. Using detailed information available for the UDSz dataset, various techniques are optimised and then used to estimate the passive fraction from the full UDS photometric catalog. The passive fraction results from the full photometric catalog are found to agree well with the results derived from the UDSz sample. With the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) now starting to produce data, the opportunity has been taken to develop high-redshift galaxy population dividers based on the VISTA filters. Using the first data release from the VISTA Deep Extragalactic Observations (VIDEO) survey (VVDS D1 field), the passive fractions of K-band limited samples have been estimated to compare with results derived in the UDS. Within the errors the passive fraction estimates in the UDS and VISTA VVDS D1 field are found to agree reasonably well. Finally, composite spectra are used to study the evolution of various different galaxy sub-samples as a function of redshift, age, stellar-mass and specific star-formation rate. This work produces an remarkably clean result, showing that the massive, absolute Kband bright, passively evolving ETGs are always the oldest population, with ages close to the age of the Universe at z ∼ 1.4. In contrast, the late-type, low-mass, star-forming galaxies are always found to be much younger systems. This result strongly supports the downsizing scenario, in which more massive systems complete their stellar-mass assembly before lower-mass counterparts.

O estudo de populações estelares em galáxias é particularmente interessante, uma vez que são um registro fóssil de vários processos físicos associados com a formação e evolução das galáxias. Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados preliminares de uma nova abordagem para o estudo da distribuição de populações estelares no interior das galáxias. A partir das magnitudes ugriz de uma amostra de galáxias, utilizou-se a análise PCA e a determinação de diversos parâmetros para estudar a distribuição espacial das populações estelares nas galáxias. Utilizando uma abordagem píxel a píxel, as populações estelares são investigadas através da aplicação de variadas ferramentas estatísticas, tais como índices de Gini e Funcionais de Minkowski. Esta abordagem é um passo a frente no estudo de galáxias, no sentido que a análise pode ser aprofundada em cada píxel da galáxia, ao invés de estudar a galáxia como um todo. A aplicação de tal tratamento aos píxeis de uma imagem permite a obtenção de estimativas quantitativas sobre a forma como as diferentes populações estelares são distribuídos dentro de uma galáxia, trazendo dicas sobre como elas crescem e evoluem. Nossos resultados preliminares mostraram que uma metodologia píxel a píxel é eficiente no estudo das galáxias. Analisando 15 galáxias de tipos distintos, observou-se que as mesmas possuem populações estelares velhas no centro e novas nas regiões periféricas, corroborando com o cenário inside-out de formação de galáxias. Dada a potencialidade do método desenvolvido, pretende-se automatiza-lo para aplicação em dados de grandes surveys. / The study of stellar populations in galaxies is particularly interesting since they are a fossil record of various physical processes associated with the formation and evolution of galaxies. This work presents the preliminary results of a new approach to the study of the spatial distribution of stellar populations within a galaxy. From the ugriz magnitudes of a sample of galaxies, we used the PCA analysis and determination of various parameters to study the spatial distribution of the stellar populations in galaxies. Using a pixel by pixel approach, the stellar populations are investigated through the application of various statistical tools, such as Gini indexes and Minkowski Functional. This approach is a step forward in the study of galaxies, in the sense that the analysis can be deepened in each pixel of the galaxy, rather than studying the galaxy as a whole. The application of such treatment to the pixels of an image allows to obtain quantitative estimates on how the different stellar populations are distributed within a galaxy, bringing tips on how they grow and evolve. Our preliminary results showed that a pixel by pixel approach is efficient in the study of galaxies. Analyzing 15 galaxies of different types, we observed that they have old stellar populations in the central regions and younger stellar population in the peripheral regions, corroborating the scenario inside-out formation of galaxies. Given the potential of the developed method, the aim is automate and to apply it in data of large surveys.

O estudo de populações estelares em galáxias é particularmente interessante, uma vez que são um registro fóssil de vários processos físicos associados com a formação e evolução das galáxias. Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados preliminares de uma nova abordagem para o estudo da distribuição de populações estelares no interior das galáxias. A partir das magnitudes ugriz de uma amostra de galáxias, utilizou-se a análise PCA e a determinação de diversos parâmetros para estudar a distribuição espacial das populações estelares nas galáxias. Utilizando uma abordagem píxel a píxel, as populações estelares são investigadas através da aplicação de variadas ferramentas estatísticas, tais como índices de Gini e Funcionais de Minkowski. Esta abordagem é um passo a frente no estudo de galáxias, no sentido que a análise pode ser aprofundada em cada píxel da galáxia, ao invés de estudar a galáxia como um todo. A aplicação de tal tratamento aos píxeis de uma imagem permite a obtenção de estimativas quantitativas sobre a forma como as diferentes populações estelares são distribuídos dentro de uma galáxia, trazendo dicas sobre como elas crescem e evoluem. Nossos resultados preliminares mostraram que uma metodologia píxel a píxel é eficiente no estudo das galáxias. Analisando 15 galáxias de tipos distintos, observou-se que as mesmas possuem populações estelares velhas no centro e novas nas regiões periféricas, corroborando com o cenário inside-out de formação de galáxias. Dada a potencialidade do método desenvolvido, pretende-se automatiza-lo para aplicação em dados de grandes surveys. / The study of stellar populations in galaxies is particularly interesting since they are a fossil record of various physical processes associated with the formation and evolution of galaxies. This work presents the preliminary results of a new approach to the study of the spatial distribution of stellar populations within a galaxy. From the ugriz magnitudes of a sample of galaxies, we used the PCA analysis and determination of various parameters to study the spatial distribution of the stellar populations in galaxies. Using a pixel by pixel approach, the stellar populations are investigated through the application of various statistical tools, such as Gini indexes and Minkowski Functional. This approach is a step forward in the study of galaxies, in the sense that the analysis can be deepened in each pixel of the galaxy, rather than studying the galaxy as a whole. The application of such treatment to the pixels of an image allows to obtain quantitative estimates on how the different stellar populations are distributed within a galaxy, bringing tips on how they grow and evolve. Our preliminary results showed that a pixel by pixel approach is efficient in the study of galaxies. Analyzing 15 galaxies of different types, we observed that they have old stellar populations in the central regions and younger stellar population in the peripheral regions, corroborating the scenario inside-out formation of galaxies. Given the potential of the developed method, the aim is automate and to apply it in data of large surveys.

L’étude des amas globulaires (AGs) nous offre une opportunité d’appréhender l’histoire de leurs galaxies hôtes et ainsi l’histoire de l’univers. Dans cette thèse, je me suis intéressé aux propriétés des AGs dans différents environnements. Tout d’abord, je me suis concentré sur les AGs de l’amas de la Vierge, un amas de galaxies très dense situé à environ 16,5 Mpc. J’ai utilisé les données observées par le relevé NGVS (Next Generation Virgo Survey) pour définir un échantillon qui contient 1846AGs. J’ai ensuite comparé les couleurs de ces amas avec celles d’autres AGs originaires de la Voie Lactée et j’ai remarqué des différences de couleurs encore jamais observées, dont la nature exacte est encore énigmatique. Pour comprendre ces différences, j’ai ensuite comparé les AGs observés avec des AGs synthétiques basés sur 10 modèles de synthèse de populations stellaires. J’ai aussi étudié les âges et les métallicités ressortant de la confrontation directe des couleurs des AGs à ces modèles. En conclusion, en l’état actuel, les modèles ne rendent pas compte de la diversité identifiée dans ma thèse. Finalement, j’ai effectué une brève étude des propriétés spatiales des AGs autour de M87 pour repérer des marques d’accrétion. / Through the study of the globular cluster (GC) properties, it is possible to unravel the history of their host galaxies and by extension the history of the universe. During this thesis, I was interested in the GC properties in different environments. First, I looked at the GCs in the Virgo cluster, a dense galaxy cluster located at 16.5 Mpc. I used data from the survey NGVS (Next Generation Virgo Survey) to define a sample of 1846 GCs. Then, I compared the colors of these GCs with those of Milky Way GCs and I noted color differences never yet observed, which are still enigmatic. In order to understand these differences, I compared the observed GCs with synthetic GCs obtained with 10 stellar population synthesis models. I also studied the age and metallicity predictions of those models. In the end, in their current status, the models do not account for the diversity highlighted in my thesis. Finally, I assessed the spatial properties of the GCs around M87 in order to find any signatures of a recent accretion.

Dans le cadre de ma thèse, j'ai effectué l'analyse spectrale d'un échantillon massif de spectres stellaires dans le contexte du programme exoplanète de la mission CoRoT. J'ai tiré avantage des instruments Flames/GIRAFFE pour observer près de 2000 étoiles dans le but de comprendre les populations stellaires dans les champs CoRoT. Dans ce but, j'ai implémenté, calibré, testé, et appliqué une chaîne de traitement et de réduction fiable et efficace afin de réduire et d'analyser automatiquement (en utilisant l'algorithme de paramétrisation MATISSE, Gazzano et al. 2010) un large échantillon de spectres stellaires. J'ai déterminé la vitesse barycentrique radiale, une estimation de la vitesse de rotation projetée sur la ligne de visée, la température effective, la gravité de surface, de la métallicité global et l'enrichissement des éléments par rapport au fer pour 1 227 étoiles dans trois des champs CoRoT. Ainsi, j'ai construit un des premiers échantillons affranchis de biais de sélection pour toute étude concernant la relation planète métallicité dans les champs CoRoT et démontré que le nombre des étoiles naines a été généralement sous-estimé par la classification photométrique (Exo-Dat, Deleuil et al. 2009). J'ai appliqué la relation reliant le nombre de planètes détectées à la métallicité de l'étoile hôte (Udry & Santos 2007), parfaitement en accord avec le nombre actuel de détection planétaire dans les champs CoRoT correspondant (Gazzano et al. 2010). En utilisant les paramètres atmosphériques MATISSE, nous avons déterminé les distances et nous les avons combinées avec des informations cinématiques (les mouvements propres du catalogue PPMXL - Roeser et al. (2010), et l'astrométrie). Nous avons dérivé les composantes de cinématique Galactique : position et vitesse. Cela m'a permis d'étudier les populations stellaires dans les champs CoRoT /exoplanète et de quantifier le gradient de métallicité dans la Galaxie (Gazzano et al. En préparation). J'ai par ailleurs montré que les étoiles à planètes détectées dans les champs considérés pour ma thèse sont exclusivement des étoiles de disque mince. J'ai également participé au suivi des candidats planète CoRoT à l'aide de spectroscopie à haute résolution. J'ai effectué l'analyse spectrale, avec le logiciel VWA (Bruntt et al. 2010b,a), des étoiles hôtes pour la mission spatiale CoRoT. Ces études ont conduit à la détermination des paramètres fondamentaux de l'étoile, qui est une étape indispensable pour la caractérisation complète de la planète. / During my Ph.D., I performed the spectral analysis of a massive sample of stellar spectra in the context of the CoRoT /Exoplanet mission. We took advantage of the Flames/GIRAFFE multi-fibre instrument to observe almost 2 000 stars with the aim of understanding the stellar populations in the CoRoT fields. To these purposes, I implemented, calibrated, tested and applied an automatic pipeline to reduce and analyse automatically (using the parameterization algorithm MATISSE, Gazzano et al. 2010) a large sample of stellar spectra. I derived the barycentric radial velocity, an estimate of the rotational velocity projected on the line of sight, the effective temperature, the surface gravity, the overall metallicity and the -enhancement for 1227 stars in three of the CoRoT fields. Hence, I built one of the first unbiased samples for any study regarding planet metallicity relationship in the CoRoT fields and demonstrated that the amount of dwarf stars was generally underestimated by the photometric classification (in Exo-Dat, Deleuil et al. 2009). I applied the relationship linking the number of planets as a function of the metallicity of the host star (Udry & Santos 2007), totally in agreement with the current number of planetary detection in the corresponding CoRoT fields (Gazzano et al. 2010). Using MATISSE atmospheric parameters, we determined distances and combining them with kinematics information (proper motions from PPMXL catalogue - Roeser et al. (2010) and astrometry), we derived Galactic kinematics components : position, velocities and orbits. This allowed me to study the stellar populations in the CoRoT /Exoplanet fields and quantify the metallicity gradient in the Galaxy (Gazzano et al. in preparation). I also participated to the spectroscopic follow-up observations of CoRoT planetary candidates with high resolution spectroscopy, to the spectroscopic analysis, with the VWA software (Bruntt et al. 2010b,a), of planet hosting stars for the CoRoT space mission and to their characterisation and publication. Indeed, the determination of the fundamental parameters of the star is a mandatory step for the complete characterisation of the planet.

The presented study gives a comprehensive overview of the theory and the evidence for a systematically varying stellar initial mass function (IMF). Then we focus on the impact of this paradigm change, that is, from the universal invariant IMF to a variable IMF, on galaxy chemical evolution (GCE) studies. For this aim, we developed the first GCE code, GalIMF, that is able to incorporate the empirically calibrated environment-dependent IMF variation theory, the integrated galactic initial mass function (IGIMF) theory. In this theory, the galaxy-wide IMF is calculated by summing all the IMFs in all embedded star clusters which formed throughout the galaxy in 10 Myr time epochs. The GalIMF code recalculates the galaxy-wide IMF at each time step because the integrated galaxy- wide IMF depends on the galactic star formation rate and metallicity. The resulting galaxy-wide IMF and metal abundance evolve with time. Using this code, we examine the chemical evolution of early-type galaxies (ETGs) from dwarf to the most massive. We find that the introduction of the non-canonical IMF affects the best estimation of the galaxy properties such as their mass, star formation history, and star formation efficiency. Moreover, we are able to provide an independent estimation on the stellar formation timescale of galaxies, the...