Ultraviolet Imaging of IRAS Starburst Galaxies

Statistics – Applications

Scientific paper

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Hst Proposal Id #3913

Scientific paper

We propose to obtain ultraviolet FOC images of three IRAS starburst galaxies with luminosities L_IR > 10^12 L_sun. The observations will provide approximate spectral energy distributions that will be used to predict magnitudes and colors for similar objects seen at redshifts of z = 1 to 4. We can then search for them in groundbased multicolor surveys of faint galaxies. Two applications are planned. (1) If starbursting merger remnants can be identified over a range of redshifts, then we can estimate the time dependence of the merger rate for massive galaxies. This will put on a firmer observational footing the present theoretical estimates of how many ellipticals were made by mergers. (2) We plan to pursue a suggestion by Kormendy, Sanders & Cowie (1991) that ultraluminous IRAS galaxies are local analogs of protogalaxies. The proposed objects have precisely the properties expected of elliptical galaxies forming by dissipative collapse. They contain intense starbursts that are shrouded by dust. Since even the oldest giant ellipticals have solar or higher metallicities, all giant ellipticals must have formed from gas as enriched as that in IRAS merger progenitors. Therefore, ellipticals forming at redshifts z > 1 may also have been shrouded. Optical and infrared searches require that we know restframe spectra in the ultraviolet. No such spectra are available. The observations will therefore help to improve protogalaxy search strategies.

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