Análisis espacialmente resuelto de la tasa de formación estelar y su densidad cósmica en galaxias cercanas

Abstract

Star Formation is one of the most relevant physical processes that determines the formation of galaxies, as well as, one of the main agents that drive their evolution. This Ph.D. Thesis addresses the topic of star formation in nearby galaxies exploring a range of different physical scales ranging from entire galaxies to the different structural components that form them such as bulges, bars, and disks. The way of proceeding has been as follows, (I) we determine the current SFR in external galaxies from a global perspective, (II) we determine the variation of the SFR along the different internal structures that shape galaxies (bulges, bars, and disks) with the aim to characterize the activation and quenching process involved, (III) finally, the star formation rate density values are provided for entire galaxies and for their components. The advent of the integral field spectroscopy (IFS) technique, that combines at the same time the advantages of imaging and spectroscopy, is particularly suitable for studying the two-dimensional structure of galaxies. This technique allows us to have spatial and spectral information simultaneously. Thus, the majority of the data used along this thesis come from the CALIFA (Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area Survey) survey...