Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2004-05-06
Astrophys.J. 612 (2004) 679-689
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted in the Astrophysical Journal (11 pages, 4 figures). Higher resolution version of the figures is available at http:/
Scientific paper
10.1086/422420
We present the results from our program to determine the evolution of the galaxy interaction/merger rate with redshift using the unique star-forming characteristics of collisional ring galaxies. We have identified 25 distant collisional ring galaxy candidates (CRGCs) in a total of 162 deep Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field/Planetary Camera-2 images obtained from the HST Archives. Based on measured and estimated redshifts, these 25 CRGCs all lie in the redshift interval of 0.1 < z < 1. Using the local collisional ring galaxy volume density and the new ``standard'' cosmology, we find that in order to account for the number of identified CRGCs in our surveyed fields, the galaxy interaction/merger rate, parameterized as (1 + z)^m, must increase steeply with redshift.We determine a minimum value of m = 5.2 $\pm$ 0.7, though m could be as high as 7 or 8. We can rule out a non-evolving (m = 0) and weakly evolving (m = 1-2) galaxy interaction/merger rate at greater than the 4 sigma level of confidence.
Charmandaris Vassilios
Hayes R. D.
Lavery Russell J.
Remijan Anthony
Ring A. A.
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