The Evolution of Galaxy Structure over Cosmic Time

Understand

I present a comprehensive review of the evolution of galaxy structure in the universe from the first galaxies we can currently observe at z~6 down to galaxies we see in the local universe.

• I further address how these changes reveal galaxy formation processes that galaxy structural analyses can provide.
• This review is pedagogical and begins with a detailed discussion of the major methods in which galaxies are studied morphologically and structurally.
• This includes the well-established visual method; Sersic fitting to measure galaxy sizes and surface brightness profile shapes; non-parametric structural methods including the concentration (C), asymmetry (A), clumpiness (S) (CAS) method, as well as newer structural indices.