Research Interests

HI properties as a function of redshift and environment

HI deep fields offer the unique opportunity to study the HI properties of galaxies in different environments across cosmic time. CHILES (COSMOS HI Large Extragalactic Survey) is the first ever HI deep field, simultaneously probing HI in the redshift range from z=0 to z=0.5. Our observing target is the COSMOS field since it has a wealth of multiwavelength data available. We started observing in Fall 2013 and expect to complete the 1000 hours in the next 2-3 years.

We carried out a pilot that observed the same field out to z=0.2 for 60 hours. Our results are presented in Fernández et al. 2013.

More information about CHILES can be found here.

In addition to CHILES, I have recently joined the BUDHIES team. This HI survey done with WSRT observed two large volumes each centered around a cluster at z~0.2. I am analyzing the SFR and HI properties as a function of the different environments.

Halo Gas

I am also interested in understanding how galaxies accrete their gas. We used a high-resolution cosmological simulation of a Milky Way-sized galaxy to study the distribution and origin of neutral halo gas. We found that most of the halo gas comes from disrupted filamentary streams, stipped satellite gas, and feedback material. In addition we found that the HI accretion rate is not high enoug to sustain the MilkY Way's current SFR. Our results are presented in Fernández et al. 2012 and in Joung et al. 2012.

Luminous Infrared Galaxies

I have used the VLA and CARMA to carry out a high-resolution study of the HI, CO, and radio continuum in the merger remnant NGC 34. We detected HI in the two tidal tails and see evidence for material falling back to the central regions of the remnant. In addition, we see a wide HI absorption feature that matches with the CO molecular disk. Lastly, we detec two faint radio relics spanning close to 400 kpc. Our results are summarized in Fernández et al. 2014 and in Fernández et al. 2010.

In addition, I was also involved in an Arecibo study of a sample of 84 galaxies with high infrared luminosities. We detected HI in 82 of them, and OH in 7 galaxies. The results are presented in Fernández et al. 2010.