Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21941605n&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #416.05
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
The life cycles of galaxies over cosmic time is yet to be fully understood. To build the population observed now, galaxies experienced significantly larger star formation rates (SFR) at earlier epochs; the peak of global star formation is posited to have occurred at z 2. In this project we interpret the evolutionary state of a sample of Luminous Blue Compact Galaxies (LBCGs), galaxies in the local (z < 0.05) universe exhibiting blue colors, [(B-V) ≤ 0.5], absolute luminosities comparable to bright galaxies, (MB < -19), and high SFRs [10-50 M(sun) per year]. Due to the scale of this star formation, LBCGs appear to be ideal local analogs to the early evolutionary phases of most galaxies. Their location in the near-field permits detailed investigation over a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum with high spatial resolution, permitting the processes of galaxy assembly to be examined in great detail. While LBCGs appear to be rapidly evolving systems, the mechanisms driving this evolution, the progenitor population and final morphological state are little understood.
We combine optical imagery (UBVR,Hα) obtained at McDonald Observatory with UV photometry from GALEX, thermal-infrared photometry from IRAS, and radio data to investigate the structure and star formation history for 50 LBCGs. Multi-band surface photometry is used to quantify the formation rate and spatial distribution of young stars, and assesses the degree to which these systems are or have interacted with nearby galaxies. While a substantial number of systems are mildly or strongly interacting, the sample is not dominated by interactions, indicating that internal processes can trigger strong star formation episodes. Comparison of SFRs estimated using far-IR and ultraviolet data generally finds infrared-derived rates significantly higher, yet most LBCGs are strongly detected with GALEX, suggesting long-lived starbursts. We highlight possible evolutionary connections between LBCGs, ultraluminous infrared galaxies, and post-starburst systems.
Fanelli Michael
Marcum Pam
Newton Cassidy L.
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