High Resolution Near-Infrared Imaging of 60 microns Peakers

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

Based on optical spectroscopy, multicolor broad-band optical imaging, and narrow-band Hα imaging, it is claimed that the unusual spectral energy distribution of 60 microns Peakers is attributed to dust that is more centrally concentrated and exposed to a more intense radiation field than in randomly selected IRAS galaxies. Due to the central dust shroud, the morphology of the circumnuclear regions of 60 microns Peakers is virtually unknown at optical wavelengths. Since dust extinction in the near-infrared (NIR) is much lower than in the optical (AK ~ 0.1 times AV), a program of high resolution (0.6 arcsec/pixel) NIR (J, H, K) imaging at UKIRT was undertaken for roughly half of the sample ( ~ 30), in order to investigate the circumnuclear regions of 60 microns Peakers. Central structure has been uncovered in many 60 microns Peakers, including the discovery of previously undetected double nuclei in the centers of three amorphous galaxies (IRAS 05189, 06488 08014) and a third nucleus in the well studied ``double-nucleus" galaxy Mrk 463. All of these closely separated nuclei were detected on K-band images only, which is undoubtedly due to Brgamma emission and to reduced extinction. From the frequency and projected separations of multiple nuclei in the sample, it is estimated that the timescale of the 60 microns Peaker phase is ~ 10(8) yrs. The detection of multiple nuclei in a significant fraction of the amorphous galaxies and the short lifetime of the 60 microns Peaker phase strongly supports the claim that these are galaxies in a rapid phase of evolution following an interaction/merger event. A quantitative analysis of the NIR morphology (eg. surface brightness profiles, effective radii, axial ratios) is presented and compared with the optical (B, R) morphology.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

High Resolution Near-Infrared Imaging of 60 microns Peakers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with High Resolution Near-Infrared Imaging of 60 microns Peakers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High Resolution Near-Infrared Imaging of 60 microns Peakers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1110678

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.