Local Group dwarf galaxies as cosmological probes

Overview & Synopsis

Dwarf galaxies are primitive objects that are essential to understanding the universe around us. They act like time capsules and have very low stellar masses, making them the perfect laboratory to explore the physics of galaxy formation & evolution and cosmology. Most of the constraints are derived from the satellite system of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, but as it may not be typical, it is important to study dwarf galaxies around other hosts. Therefore, the aim of this work is to characterize the satellite system of our cosmic neighbor, M31. The first part of this work is dedicated to obtaining the completeness of the search for M31 dwarf galaxies as a function of their luminosity, size, distance and position. In the second part of this thesis, I infer the global properties of this satellite system, folding in the detection limits, creating a solid foundation for future comparison between M31 satellite observations and simulations.