My broad scientific interest is galaxy evolution. In particular, I lead my independent research on the origin of internal stellar structures in (nearby) galaxies as they are today. My research mostly follows two different lines on galactic centers at small scales and large disk structures in external galaxies. In addition, I have contributed to and I regularly join other projects on galaxy evolution, led by my collaborators, ranging from other stellar structures to gas properties, star formation, stellar feedback or active galactic nuclei (AGNs).
Galaxy formation and evolution are key to understanding the journey from the primordial to the current Universe and can be traced by the extraordinary wealth of morphological structures in nearby galaxies. I am an expert in the study of the properties and origin of internal stellar structures that form and grow in galaxies at different spatial scales, and in how they fit into the context of galaxy formation and evolution. My expertise in both large- and small-scale structures in galaxies enables me to connect the dots between the formation of the first galaxy structures and later galaxy evolution.
My ample experience with a wide range of state-of-the-art instruments spans from successful observing-proposal writing and observation planning, through data reduction, to data analysis and scientific interpretation. In particular, I am an expert in spectral fitting and analysis of stellar kinematics and populations of galactic structures, which bring the footprint of the past processes that shaped them, through (optical and infrared) integral-field spectroscopy (IFS) observations of galaxies. In addition to this, I frequently use comparisons with numerical simulations to help find the Rosetta Stone to interpret my observations.
More details on the main research lines:
Stellar disks: the origin of thick disks
I am one of the few world experts in the origin of thick disks, gathering most of the existing publications in this field using stellar populations and kinematics from integral-field spectroscopy observations of edge-on galaxies of different types. I complement with cosmological simulations which offer the key to understand better observations. I am currently leading the stellar-population analysis of thick disks in the large sample of edge-on galaxies from the new (MUSE@VLT) GECKOS survey, and coordinating the efforts on understanding the formation and evolution of stellar disks in the GECKOS collaboration. I am also progressing with the analysis of larger samples of simulations. I am currently coordinating with Dr. Isabel Pérez Martín a white paper about the need of a 30-m-class telescope in the Northern Hemisphere, focused on thick disks in very nearby edge-on Milky Way-analogs where we will be able to resolve individual stars. More details about my work on this research line if you click on the title.
Galactic centers
I was initiated in the study of galactic centers during my postdoc at MPIA in the Galactic Nuclei Group. My work has been focusing mostly on the origin of nuclear star clusters (NSCs), reconstructing their formation and evolution using stellar kinematics and populations of resolved and unresolved NSCs and their surroundings, extracted from integral-field spectroscopy observations.
I was awarded with a Maria Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (MSCA), allowing me to currently develop my own project about galactic centers at different spatial scales and combining both observations and simulations: «TraNSLate: Tracing galaxy evolution with Nuclear Structures in Late-type galaxies«. The project proposal is summarized as follows:
«Central regions of galaxies are inhabited by dense small structures, such as nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and nuclear disks and rings. These, at the bottom of the galactic potential well, are important tracers of the overall galaxy evolution, but the dominant mechanisms of their formation in galaxies of different masses and morphologies are still unclear. The TraNSLate project (Tracing galaxy evolution with Nuclear Structures in Late-type galaxies) will shed light on this issue, combining high-resolution zoom-in cosmological simulations with state-of-the-art integral-field spectroscopy observations. TraNSLate will be conclusive on the role of gas accretion and inflow followed by nuclear in-situ star formation, and stellar accretion and migration to the center of a galaxy. First, I will quantify the relative contribution of these processes in the central regions of 50 simulated galaxies. I will identify potential nuclear structures and unveil how they formed going back in time to previous snapshots of simulations. Secondly, I will focus on NSCs in observations of eight massive late-type galaxies (so far poorly studied), and their properties will be interpreted with the help of recipes provided by simulations. Finally, since higher resolution than current state of the art is needed to detect the smallest NSCs, TraNSLate will deliver one NSC-oriented pilot simulation, with a factor of 10 higher resolution, and a detailed plan for a future complete run of 20 more simulations.«
More details about my work on this research line if you click on the title.
Are you a student willing to work with me on these topics?
Please contact me to ask about what projects are available at the moment: Contact Francesca Pinna