Computer Science
Scientific paper
Jul 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007hst..prop11235s&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #11235. Cycle 16
Computer Science
Scientific paper
At luminosities above 10^11.4 L_sun, the space density of far-infrared selected galaxies exceeds that of optically selected galaxies. These `luminous infrared galaxies' LIRGs are primarily interacting or merging disk galaxies undergoing enhanced star formation and Active Galactic Nuclei AGN activity, possibly triggered as the objects transform into massive S0 and elliptical merger remnants. We propose NICMOS NIC2 imaging of the nuclear regions of a complete sample of 88 L_IR > 10^11.4 L_sun luminous infrared galaxies in the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample RBGS: i.e., 60 micron flux density > 5.24 Jy. This sample is ideal not only in its completeness and sample size, but also in the proximity and brightness of the galaxies. The superb sensitivity and resolution of NICMOS NIC2 on HST enables a unique opportunity to study the detailed structure of the nuclear regions, where dust obscuration may mask star clusters, AGN and additional nuclei from optical view, with a resolution significantly higher than possible with Spitzer IRAC. This survey thus provides a crucial component to our study of the dynamics and evolution of IR galaxies presently underway with Wide-Field, HST ACS/WFC and Spitzer IRAC observations of these 88 galaxies. Imaging will be done with the F160W filter H-band to examine as a function of both luminosity and merger stage i the luminosity and distribution of embedded star clusters, ii the presence of optically obscured AGN and nuclei, iii the correlation between the distribution of 1.6 micron emission and the mid-IR emission as detected by Spitzer IRAC, iv the evidence of bars or bridges that may funnel fuel into the nuclear region, and v the ages of star clusters for which photometry is available via ACS/WFC observations. The NICMOS data, combined with the HST ACS, Spitzer, and GALEX observations of this sample, will result in the most comprehensive study of merging and interacting galaxies to date.;
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