arXiv subjects

Marc Balcells

Publications and source records attributed to Marc Balcells.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40m Telescope and the Science at Stake: Ultra-Low-Mass Dwarf Galaxies Across the Boreal Cosmic Web

Dwarf galaxies dominate the galaxy population in the nearby Universe and occupy the regime where feedback, reionization, and environment exert their strongest influence on galaxy formation. Despite their importance, detailed spectroscopic constraints on the faintest dwarfs are currently limited to a handful of systems in the Local Volume, leaving the role of large-scale environment essentially unexplored at ultra-low stellar masses. A northern 30-40m class telescope equipped with a multiplexed optical integral-field spectrograph will enable a systematic, spatially resolved spectroscopic census of dwarf galaxies with $M_\star \sim 10^{5}-10^{7} M_\odot$ across a wide range of environments. A deep survey of the Coma Cluster, combined with targeted observations of dwarfs in clusters, groups, filaments, and low-density regions, will map star formation histories, chemical enrichment, and internal kinematics at unprecedented depth. This program will directly test models of dark-matter physics, early-Universe feedback, and environmental quenching in the lowest-mass galaxies, establishing dwarf galaxies as precision probes of both galaxy formation and fundamental physics.

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arXiv2025

The WEAVE-TwiLight-Survey: Expanding WEAVE's Reach to Bright and Low-Surface-Density Targets with a Novel Observing Mode

Current-day multi-object spectroscopic surveys are often limited in their ability to observe bright stars due to their low surface densities, resulting in increased observational overheads and reduced efficiency. Addressing this, we have developed a novel observing mode for WEAVE (William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer) that enables efficient observations of low-surface-density target fields without incurring additional overheads from calibration exposures. As a pilot for the new mode, we introduce the WEAVE-TwiLight-Survey (WTLS), focusing on bright exoplanet-host stars and their immediate surroundings on the sky. High observational efficiency is achieved by superimposing multiple low-target-density fields and allocating the optical fibres in this configuration. We use a heuristic method to define fields relative to a central guide star, which serves as a reference for their superposition. Suitable guide fibres for each merged configuration are selected using a custom algorithm. Test observations have been carried out, demonstrating the feasibility of the new observing mode. We show that merged field configurations can be observed with WEAVE using the proposed method. The approach minimizes calibration times and opens twilight hours to WEAVE's operational schedule. WTLS is built upon the new observing mode and sourced from the ESA PLATO long-duration-phase fields. This survey will result in a homogeneous catalogue of approximately 6300 bright stars, including 62 known planet hosts, laying the groundwork for future elemental abundance studies tracing chemical patterns of planetary formation. This new observing mode (WEAVE-Tumble-Less) expands WEAVE's capabilities to rarely used on-sky time and low-density field configurations without sacrificing efficiency.

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arXiv2023

The upcoming spectroscopic powerhouses at the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes

The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes is completing a strategic change for the scientific use of its two telescopes, the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) and the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT). After more than 30 years operating as multi-purpose telescopes, the telescopes will soon complete their shift to nearly-single instrument operation dominated by large surveys. At the WHT, the WEAVE multi-fibre spectrograph is being commissioned in late 2022. Science surveys are expected to launch in 2023. 30% of the available time will be offered in open time. For the INT, construction of HARPS-3, a high-resolution ultra-stable spectrograph for extra-solar planet studies, is underway, with deployment planned for late 2024. The INT itself is being modernised and will operate as a robotic telescope. An average of 40% of the time will be offered as open time. The ING will maintain its student programme. Plans call for moving student work from the INT to the WHT once the INT starts operating robotically.

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arXiv2022

The wide-field, multiplexed, spectroscopic facility WEAVE: Survey design, overview, and simulated implementation

WEAVE, the new wide-field, massively multiplexed spectroscopic survey facility for the William Herschel Telescope, will see first light in late 2022. WEAVE comprises a new 2-degree field-of-view prime-focus corrector system, a nearly 1000-multiplex fibre positioner, 20 individually deployable 'mini' integral field units (IFUs), and a single large IFU. These fibre systems feed a dual-beam spectrograph covering the wavelength range 366$-$959\,nm at $R\sim5000$, or two shorter ranges at $R\sim20\,000$. After summarising the design and implementation of WEAVE and its data systems, we present the organisation, science drivers and design of a five- to seven-year programme of eight individual surveys to: (i) study our Galaxy's origins by completing Gaia's phase-space information, providing metallicities to its limiting magnitude for $\sim$3 million stars and detailed abundances for $\sim1.5$ million brighter field and open-cluster stars; (ii) survey $\sim0.4$ million Galactic-plane OBA stars, young stellar objects and nearby gas to understand the evolution of young stars and their environments; (iii) perform an extensive spectral survey of white dwarfs; (iv) survey $\sim400$ neutral-hydrogen-selected galaxies with the IFUs; (v) study properties and kinematics of stellar populations and ionised gas in $z<0.5$ cluster galaxies; (vi) survey stellar populations and kinematics in $\sim25\,000$ field galaxies at $0.3\lesssim z \lesssim 0.7$; (vii) study the cosmic evolution of accretion and star formation using $>1$ million spectra of LOFAR-selected radio sources; (viii) trace structures using intergalactic/circumgalactic gas at $z>2$. Finally, we describe the WEAVE Operational Rehearsals using the WEAVE Simulator.

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arXiv2022

Optimisation of the WEAVE target assignment algorithm

WEAVE is the new wide-field spectroscopic facility for the prime focus of the William Herschel Telescope in La Palma, Spain. Its fibre positioner is essential for the accurate placement of the spectrograph's ~960-fibre multiplex. To maximise the assignment of its optical fibres, WEAVE uses a simulated annealing algorithm called Configure, which allocates the fibres to targets in the field of view. We have conducted an analysis of the algorithm's behaviour using a subset of mid-tier WEAVE-LOFAR fields, and adjusted the priority assignment algorithm to optimise the total fibres assigned per field, and the assignment of fibres to the higher priority science targets. The output distributions have been examined, to investigate the implications for the WEAVE science teams.

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arXiv2019

NGC 7457: Evidence for merger-driven cylindrical rotation in disc galaxies

We construct Schwarzschild orbit-based models of NGC 7457, known as a peculiar low-mass lenticular galaxy. Our best-fitting model successfully retrieves most of the unusual kinematics behaviours of this galaxy, in which, the orbital distribution of stars is dominated by warm and hot orbits. The reconstructed surface brightness of the hot component matches fairly well the photometric bulge and the reconstructed LOSVD map of this component shows clear rotation around the major photometric axis of the galaxy. In the absence of a dominant cold component, the outer part of our model is dominated by warm orbits, representing an exponential thick disc. Our orbital analysis also confirm the existence of a counter-rotating orbital substructure in the very centre, reported in previous observational studies. By comparing our model with a variety of simulation studies, and considering the stellar kinematics and populations properties of this galaxy, we suggest that the thick disc is most likely a dynamically heated structure, formed through the interactions and accretion of satellite(s) with near-polar initial inclination. We also suggest a merger-driven process as the most plausible scenario to explain the observed and dynamically-modelled properties of the bulge of NGC 7457. We conclude that both the high level of cylindrical rotation and unusually low velocity dispersion reported for the NGC 7457 have most-likely external origins. Therefore, NGC 7457 could be considered as a candidate for merger-driven cylindrical rotation in the absence of a strong bar in disc galaxies.

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arXiv2017

Two new confirmed massive relic galaxies: red nuggets in the present-day Universe

We confirm two new local massive relic galaxies, i.e. untouched survivors of the early universe massive population: Mrk1216 and PGC032873. Both show early and peaked formation events within very short timescales (<1 Gyr) and thus old mean mass-weighted ages (~13 Gyr). Their star formation histories remain virtually unchanged out to several effective radii, even when considering the steeper IMF values inferred out to ~3 effective radii. Their morphologies, kinematics and density profiles are like those found in the z>2 massive population, setting them apart of the typical z~0 massive early-type galaxies. We find that there seems to exist a "degree of relic" that is related on how far into the path to become one of these typical z~0 massive galaxies the compact relic has undergone. This path is partly dictated by the environment the galaxy lives in. For galaxies in rich environments, such as the previously reported relic galaxy NGC1277, the most extreme properties (e.g. sizes, short formation timescales, larger super-massive black holes) are expected, while lower density environments will have galaxies with delayed and/or extended star formations, slightly larger sizes and not that extreme black hole masses. The confirmation of 3 relic galaxies up to a distance of 106Mpc implies a lower limit in the number density of these red nuggets in the local universe of 6x10^{-7} Mpc^{3}, which is within the theoretical expectations.

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arXiv2017

The imprints of bars on the vertical stellar population gradients of galactic bulges

This is the second paper of a series aimed to study the stellar kinematics and population properties of bulges in highly-inclined barred galaxies. In this work, we carry out a detailed analysis of the stellar age, metallicity and [Mg/Fe] of 28 highly-inclined ($i > 65^{o}$) disc galaxies, from S0 to S(B)c, observed with the SAURON integral-field spectrograph. The sample is divided into two clean samples of barred and unbarred galaxies, on the basis of the correlation between the stellar velocity and h$_3$ profiles, as well as the level of cylindrical rotation within the bulge region. We find that while the mean stellar age, metallicity and [Mg/Fe] in the bulges of barred and unbarred galaxies are not statistically distinct, the [Mg/Fe] gradients along the minor axis (away from the disc) of barred galaxies are significantly different than those without bars. For barred galaxies, stars that are vertically further away from the midplane are in general more [Mg/Fe]--enhanced and thus the vertical gradients in [Mg/Fe] for barred galaxies are mostly positive, while for unbarred bulges the [Mg/Fe] profiles are typically negative or flat. This result, together with the old populations observed in the barred sample, indicates that bars are long-lasting structures, and therefore are not easily destroyed. The marked [Mg/Fe] differences with the bulges of unbarred galaxies indicate that different formation/evolution scenarios are required to explain their build-up, and emphasizes the role of bars in redistributing stellar material in the bulge dominated regions.

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arXiv2016

Relic galaxies: where are they?

The finding that massive galaxies grow with cosmic time fired the starting gun for the search of objects which could have survived up to the present day without suffering substantial changes (neither in their structures, neither in their stellar populations). Nevertheless, and despite the community efforts, up to now only one firm candidate to be considered one of these relics is known: NGC 1277. Curiously, this galaxy is located at the centre of one of the most rich near galaxy clusters: Perseus. Is its location a matter of chance? Should relic hunters focus their search on galaxy clusters? In order to reply this question, we have performed a simultaneous and analogous analysis using simulations (Millennium I-WMAP7) and observations (New York University Value-Added Galaxy Catalogue). Our results in both frameworks agree: it is more probable to find relics in high density environments.

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arXiv2016

Dynamical masses and non-homology of massive elliptical galaxies grown by dry mergers

We study whether dry merger-driven size growth of massive elliptical galaxies depends on their initial structural concentration, and analyse the validity of the homology hypothesis for virial mass determination in massive ellipticals grown by dry mergers. High-resolution simulations of a few realistic merger trees, starting with compact progenitors of different structural concentrations (S\'ersic indices n), show that galaxy growth has little dependence on the initial S\'ersic index (larger n leads to slightly larger size growth), and depends more on other particulars of the merger history. We show that the deposition of accreted matter in the outer parts leads to a systematic and predictable breaking of the homology between remnants and progenitors, which we characterize through the evolution, during the course of the merger history, of virial coefficients K = GM/Re \sigma^2 associated to the most commonly-used dynamical and stellar mass parameters. The virial coefficient for the luminous mass, K , is about 50 per cent larger at the z = 2 start of the merger evolution than in z = 0 remnants. Ignoring virial evolution leads to biased virial mass estimates. We provide K corresponding to a variety of dynamical and stellar mass parameters, and provide recipes for the dynamical determination of galaxy masses. For massive, non-compact ellipticals, the popular expression M = 5 Re \sigma^2 / G underestimates the dynamical mass within the luminous body by factors of up to 4; it instead provides an approximation to the total stellar mass with smaller uncertainty than current stellar population models.

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arXiv2016

Massive relic galaxies prefer dense environments

We study the preferred environments of $z \sim 0$ massive relic galaxies ($M_\star \gtrsim 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$ galaxies with little or no growth from star formation or mergers since $z \sim 2$). Significantly, we carry out our analysis on both a large cosmological simulation and an observed galaxy catalogue. Working on the Millennium I-WMAP7 simulation we show that the fraction of today massive objects which have grown less than 10 per cent in mass since $z \sim 2$ is ~0.04 per cent for the whole massive galaxy population with $M_\star > 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$. This fraction rises to ~0.18 per cent in galaxy clusters, confirming that clusters help massive galaxies remain unaltered. Simulations also show that massive relic galaxies tend to be closer to cluster centres than other massive galaxies. Using the New York University Value-Added Galaxy Catalogue, and defining relics as $M_\star \gtrsim 10^{10}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$ early-type galaxies with colours compatible with single-stellar population ages older than 10 Gyr, and which occupy the bottom 5-percentile in the stellar mass-size distribution, we find $1.11 \pm 0.05$ per cent of relics among massive galaxies. This fraction rises to $2.4 \pm 0.4$ per cent in high-density environments. Our findings point in the same direction as the works by Poggianti et al. and Stringer et al. Our results may reflect the fact that the cores of the clusters are created very early on, hence the centres host the first cluster members. Near the centres, high-velocity dispersions and harassment help cluster core members avoid the growth of an accreted stellar envelope via mergers, while a hot intracluster medium prevents cold gas from reaching the galaxies, inhibiting star formation.

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arXiv2015

Establishing the level of cylindrical rotation in Boxy/Peanut bulges

We present SAURON integral-field observations of a sample of 12 mid to high-inclination disk galaxies, to unveil hidden bars on the basis of their kinematics, i.e., the correlation between velocity and h3 profiles, and to establish their degree of cylindrical rotation. For the latter, we introduce a method to quantify cylindrical rotation that is robust against inner disk components. We confirm high-levels of cylindrical rotation in boxy/peanut bulges, but also observe this feature in a few galaxies with rounder bulges. We suggest that these are also barred galaxies with end-on orientations. Re-analysing published data for our own Galaxy using this new method, we determine that the Milky Way bulge is cylindrically rotating at the same level as the strongest barred galaxy in our sample. Finally, we use self-consistent three-dimensional N-body simulations of bar-unstable disks to study the dependence of cylindrical rotation on the bar's orientation and host galaxy inclination.

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arXiv2015

Massive relic galaxies challenge the co-evolution of SMBHs and their host galaxies

We study a sample of eight massive galaxies that are extreme outliers (3-5$\sigma$) in the M$_{\bullet}$-M$_\mathrm{bulge}$ local scaling relation. Two of these galaxies are confirmed to host extremely large super massive black holes (SMBHs), whereas the virial mass estimates for the other six are also consistent with having abnormally large SMBHs. From the analysis of their star formation histories and their structural properties we find that all these extreme outliers can be considered as relic galaxies from the early (z$\sim$2) Universe: i.e. they are compact (R$_{\mathrm{e}}$$<$2 kpc) and have purely old stellar populations (t$\gtrsim$10 Gyr). In order to explain the nature of such deviations from the local relations, we propose a scenario in which the hosts of these \"uber-massive SMBHs are galaxies that have followed a different evolutionary path than the two-phase growth channel assumed for massive galaxies. Once the SMBH and the core of the galaxy are formed at z$\sim$2, the galaxy skips the second phase, remaining structurally untouched and without further mass and size increase. We show that if the outliers had followed the normal evolutionary path by growing in size via merger activity, the expected (mild) growth in mass would place them closer to the observed local relations. Our results suggest that the SMBH growth epoch for the most massive galaxies stopped $\sim$10Gyr ago.

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arXiv2015

Which galaxy mass estimator can we trust?

We address the problem that dynamical masses of high-redshift massive galaxies, derived using virial scaling, often come out lower than stellar masses inferred from population fitting to multi-band photometry. We compare dynamical and stellar masses for various samples spanning ranges of mass, compactness and redshift, including the SDSS. The discrepancy between dynamical and stellar masses occurs both at low and high redshifts, and systematically increases with galaxy compactness. Because it is unlikely that stellar masses show systematic errors with galaxy compactness, the correlation of mass discrepancy with compactness points to errors in the dynamical mass estimates which assume homology with massive, nearby ellipticals. We quantify the deviations from homology and propose specific non-virial scaling of dynamical mass with effective radius and velocity dispersion.

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arXiv2014

The HST/ACS Coma Cluster Survey. X. Nuclear star clusters in low-mass early-type galaxies: scaling relations

We present scaling relations between structural properties of nuclear star clusters and their host galaxies for a sample of early-type dwarf galaxies observed as part of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Coma Cluster Survey. We have analysed the light profiles of 200 early-type dwarf galaxies in the magnitude range $16.0 < m_{F814W} < 22.6 $ mag, corresponding to $-19.0 < M_{F814W} < -12.4 $ mag. Nuclear star clusters are detected in 80% of the galaxies, thus doubling the sample of HST-observed early-type dwarf galaxies with nuclear star clusters. \changed{We confirm that the} nuclear star cluster detection fraction decreases strongly toward faint magnitudes. The luminosities of nuclear star clusters do not scale linearly with host galaxy luminosity. A linear fit yields L$_{nuc} \sim $L$_{gal}^{0.57\pm0.05}$. The nuclear star cluster-host galaxy luminosity scaling relation for low-mass early-type dwarf galaxies is consistent with formation by globular cluster accretion. We find that at similar luminosities, galaxies with higher S\'ersic indices have slightly more luminous nuclear star clusters. Rounder galaxies have on average more luminous clusters. Some of the nuclear star clusters are resolved, despite the distance of Coma. We argue that the relation between nuclear star cluster mass and size is consistent with both formation by globular cluster accretion and in situ formation. Our data are consistent with GC inspiraling being the dominant mechanism at low masses, although the observed trend with S\'ersic index suggests that in situ star formation is an important second order effect.

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arXiv2014

Evolution induced by dry minor mergers onto fast-rotator S0 galaxies

We analysed collisionless N-body simulations of intermediate and minor dry mergers onto S0s to test whether these mergers can generate S0 galaxies with kinematics intermediate between fast and slow rotators. We find that minor mergers induce a lower decrease of the global rotational support than encounters of lower mass ratios, which results in S0s with properties intermediate between fast and slow rotators. The resulting remnants are intrinsically more triaxial, less flattened, and span the whole range of apparent ellipticities up to $\epsilon_\mathrm{e} \sim 0.8$. They do not show lower apparent ellipticities in random projections than initially; on the contrary, the formation of oval distortions and the disc thickening increase the percentage of projections at $0.4 < \epsilon_\mathrm{e} < 0.7$. In the experiments with S0b progenitor galaxies, minor mergers tend to spin up the bulge and to decrease slightly its intrinsic ellipticity, whereas in the cases of primary S0c galaxies they keep the rotational support of the bulge nearly constant and decrease significantly its intrinsic ellipticity. The remnant bulges remain nearly spherical ($B/A \sim C/A > 0.9$), but exhibit a wide range of triaxialities ($0.20 < T < 1.00$). In the plane of global anisotropy of velocities ($\delta$) vs. intrinsic ellipticity ($\epsilon_\mathrm{e,intr}$), some of our models extend the linear trend found in previous major merger simulations towards higher $\epsilon_\mathrm{e,intr}$ values, while others depart from it. This is consistent with the wide dispersion exhibited by real S0s in this diagram compared with ellipticals, which follow the linear trend drawn by major merger simulations. The different trends exhibited by ellipticals and S0 galaxies in the $\delta$ - $\epsilon_\mathrm{e}$ diagram may be pointing to the different role played by major mergers in the build-up of each morphological type.

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arXiv2013

Caught in the act: Cluster `k+a' galaxies as a link between spirals and S0s

We use integral field spectroscopy of 13 disk galaxies in the cluster AC114 at z ~ 0.31 in an attempt to disentangle the physical processes responsible for the transformation of spiral galaxies in clusters. Our sample is selected to display a dominant young stellar population, as indicated by strong Hdelta absorption lines in their integrated spectra. Most of our galaxies lack the [OII] emission line, and hence ongoing star formation. They therefore possess `k+a' spectra, indicative of a recent truncation of star formation, possibly preceded by a starburst. Disky `k+a' galaxies are a promising candidate for the intermediate stage of the transformation from star-forming spiral galaxies to passive S0s. Our observations allow us to study the spatial distributions and the kinematics of the different stellar populations within the galaxies. We used three different indicators to evaluate the presence of a young population: the equivalent width of Hdelta, the luminosity-weighted fraction of A stars, and the fraction of the galaxy light attributable to simple stellar populations with ages between 0.5 and 1.5 Gyr. We find a mixture of behaviours, but are able to show that in most of galaxies the last episode of star-formation occured in an extended disk, similar to preceeding generations of stars, though somewhat more centrally concentrated. We thus exclude nuclear starbursts and violent gravitational interactions as causes of the star formation truncation. Gentler mechanisms, such as ram-pressure stripping or weak galaxy-galaxy interactions, appear to be responsible for ending star-formation in these intermediate-redshift cluster disk galaxies.

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arXiv2013

NGC1277: a massive compact relic galaxy in the nearby Universe

As early as 10 Gyr ago, galaxies with more than 10^11 Msun in stars already existed. While most of these massive galaxies must have subsequently transformed through on-going star formation and mergers with other galaxies, a small fraction (<0.1%) may have survived untouched till today. Searches for such relic galaxies, useful windows to explore the early Universe, have been inconclusive to date: galaxies with masses and sizes like those observed at high redshift (M*>10^11 Msun; Re<1.5 kpc) have been found in the local Universe, but their stars are far too young for the galaxy to be a relic galaxy. This paper explores the first case of a nearby galaxy, NGC1277 (in the Perseus cluster at a distance of 73 Mpc), which fulfills all the criteria to be considered a relic galaxy. Using deep optical spectroscopy, we derive the star formation history along the structure of the galaxy: the stellar populations are uniformly old (>10 Gyr) with no evidence for more recent star formation episodes. The metallicity of their stars is super-solar ([Fe/H]=0.20+-0.04) and alpha enriched ([alpha/Fe]=0.4+-0.1). This suggests a very short formation time scale for the bulk of stars of this galaxy. This object also rotates very fast (Vrot~300 km/s) and has a large velocity dispersion (sigma>300 km/s). NGC1277 will allow future explorations in full detail of properties such as the structure, internal dynamics, metallicity, dust content and initial mass function at around 10-12 Gyr back in time when the first massive galaxies were built.

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