Multi-wavelength extragalactic astronomy at Ghent University

Abstract

Galaxies are generally considered as the basic building blocks of the Universe. Besides stars, galaxies also contain a supermassive black hole, a dark matter halo, and a multi-phase interstellar medium that consists of molecules, atoms, ions, and dust grains. A global picture of the structure, dynamics, formation, and evolution of galaxies requires observations of all these different components, and hence a multi-wavelength approach. We describe the main contributions of the UGent astronomy group to extragalactic astronomy over the last years. We focus on two broad and slightly overlapping fields in which our team has been active: galaxy kinematics and dynamics, and the study of the interstellar medium in galaxies. Possibilities for collaboration with the Indian astronomical community in the frame of the BINA network are highlighted.