Field Stars and Star Clusters as Tools to Understand the Evolution of Spiral Galaxies
Esteban Silva-Villa
Postdoc CRAQ, U. Laval

To understand galaxy formation and evolution, we need to understand how its parts (stars and gas) are formed. Field stars and stars clusters contain a big part of a galaxys history. Using HST observations, we will present here the study of three different aspects related with the evolution and formation of spiral galaxies. The dataset includes 5 nearby, face-on spiral galaxies, which allows the study of field stars and star clusters separately. Comparing observations with theoretical models, we constrained: (i) The star and cluster formation histories of the galaxies, (ii) studied the possible interaction between a spiral galaxy and a satellite companion, and (iii) checked predictions from the density wave theory. These studies reveal the importance of the use of field stars and star clusters to constrain, and understand further, the processes that shape spiral galaxies.

Date:	Friday, 20 April 2012
Time:	12:30
Where:	Université Laval
	1661 Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon