Computer Science
Scientific paper
Jun 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005sptz.prop20671k&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #20671
Computer Science
Scientific paper
We propose to map 6 closely interacting galaxy pairs with the IRAC and MIPS cameras on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The selected luminous infrared galaxy pairs (Lfir~1-15 x 10^10 Lsun) have 100micron flux densities greater than 10 Jy and typical extent of 2-3 arcmin with nuclei separations between 45 and 150 arcsec. The objects exhibit low f60/f100 ratios indicative for large amounts of cold dust. The galaxy interactions are known to play a crucial role in triggering starbursts by means of redistribution of ISM due to strong tidal forces. We expect the dust to fragment in individual knots and to be in different evolution stages; hence that very cold dust concentrations, expected to be in pre-starburst phase, can coexist with those heated by already active starburst. Taking into account the unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution of Spitzer combined with the spatial scale and sufficient brightness of the objects, we set our goals to resolve the individual dust knots of down to 5% of the integral flux. These observatinos will contribute an essential part to the multi wavelength dataset of our full sample of 12 interacting galaxy pairs. For the majority of the sample we already have obtained the data in the submm/mm and NIR wavelength regime. The completed datarecord will enable us to address some of the intriguing questions of star formation/starbursts on the galactic scale, e.g.: 1) Location and extent of the starburst activity inside an interacting galaxy pair; 2) The determination of the number of dust knots, including their masses and evolutionary status; 3) The strength of the starburst activity in dependence of the projected distance; 4) The influence of the galaxy structure and the orbital dynamics of the encounter on the gas dynamics and the evolution.
Klaas Ulrich
Krmpotic Ernest
Lemke Dietrich
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