Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004sptz.prop..197h&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #197
Physics
Scientific paper
Ring galaxies are spectacular examples of galaxy transformation through gravitational interactions. They are created by the passage of a companion galaxy through the disk of a spiral along the rotation axis. This interaction reorganizes the spiral's disk, concentrating >90% of ISM into an expanding orbit-crowded ring. The enhanced gas density promotes the growth of very massive cloud complexes during the ring's ~400 Myr lifetime, which results in a coherent propagating starburst. Some rings, most notably the Cartwheel & AM0644-741, are host to "Super Starburst Clusters", which may be analogs of young globular clusters. At the same time, star formation interior to the rings is extinguished. These systems are ideal for studies as diverse as the global regulation/triggering of massive star formation and starburst populations. My collaborators and I are concentrating on the Cartwheel & AM0644-741, combining optical imaging & spectroscopy, HI and radio continuum interferometry, and (for AM0644-741) CO single dish mapping. They are physically the largest, the most gas rich, and with the highest SFRs (~20 M0/yr). The Cartwheel's metallicity is similar to the SMC, while AM0644-741's is close to solar. Both show strong & systematic changes in local SFR/area around the rings, arising from variations in orbit crowding. We wish to use SIRTF to obtain deep Mid/Far-IR images and Mid-IR spectra of starburst clusters in both of these dramatic systems: IRS Long/Short-High Spectroscopy: We will obtain high resolution Mid-IR spectra of two starburst clusters in each ring. IRAC 4.5 & 8um mapping: Deep 8um images will show emission from the strong PAH feature at 7.7um, after subtracting a similar map at 4.5um. MIPS 70um imaging: Both galaxies are unresolved by IRAS. MIPS 70um maps will have sufficient resolution (20") for us to distinguish FIR emission from the nucleus, disk, and rings.
Higdon James J.
Houck James R.
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