Abstract: In the hierarchical structure scenario formation, galaxies grow via mergers and by accreting cold gas along cosmic filaments. On the other hand, non-axisymmetric structures such as spiral arms, bars drive the long-term (secular) evolution in disc galaxies. These processes leave characteristic morphological and kinematic fingerprints, and excavating these fingerprints holds the key to unravel the detailed evolutionary pathways of galaxies. The Milky Way (which harbours both spiral arms and a stellar bar), plays a pivotal role in decoding the evolutionary pathway of disc galaxies. Empowered with the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, the Milky Way offers a unique opportunity to carry out detailed photometric, spectroscopic, and dynamical studies on an individual star-by-star basis, in a way that is impossible for external galaxies. On the other hand, the recent observations of high-redshift galaxies (z ~ 1-3), as unveiled by JWST offer vital clues of galactic dynamics in the earlier universe. With this plethora of information in hand, the time is ripe to tackle the long-standing puzzles of galaxy evolution over cosmic time. In this talk, I will explain some of the kinetic structures in the phase-space distribution of stars in the Solar vicinity and beyond (as unveiled by Gaia), and how understanding their origin can potentially lead to a better understanding of the Milky Way’s evolution over cosmic time. I will further explore how understanding the recent JWST observations of high-redshift galaxies by means of numerical simulations can be instrumental in gaining an overall understanding of evolution of disc galaxies in the last 8-10 billion years.

Meeting ID: 997 4043 6993
Passcode: 920741