TY  - GEN
N2  - In a LambdaCDM universe, the merging of galaxies plays a key role in their formation and evolution. In this thesis I focus on two aspects of this picture. The first one is the accretion of satellite galaxies onto disk galaxies, specifically the Milky Way, leaving the galaxy mostly undisturbed in its morphology, but contributing to the stellar populations of its faintest, but most extended component, the stellar halo. I have developed techniques for detecting and exploring stellar streams formed through the tidal disruption of satellites. The main results are the discovery of a candidate stellar stream, and detailed characterization of the Sagittarius tidal stream, a key probe of the Milky Way potential. In the other project, I explore the evolution of early-type galaxies?thought to be the result of merging of disk galaxies. I show that the observed evolution of their color-magnitude relation (a probe of their stellar populations) is consistent with a constant addition of galaxies with recently truncated star formation. On both scales these studies are consistent with the notion that merging has played an important role in shaping the galaxies as we see them in the present day universe and continues to do so.
AV  - public
UR  - https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/12290/
A1  - Ruhland, Christine
Y1  - 2011///
TI  - Signposts of Hierarchical Merging
KW  - Scheibengalaxien 
KW  -  Stellarer HaloAstronomy 
KW  -  Galaxies 
KW  -   Merger 
KW  -  Stellar Halo 
KW  -  Elliptical Galaxies
ID  - heidok12290
ER  -