Luminous infrared galaxies with the submillimeter array: probing the extremes of star formation.

Authors :: Wilson, C.
Petitpas, G.
Iono, D.
Peck, A.
Krips, M.
Warren, B.
Baker, A.
Yun, M.
Pihlstrom, Y.
Mihos, C.
Matsushita, S.
Juvela, M.
Ho, P.
Cox, T.
Armus, L.
Source :: Astrophysics & Space Science; Jan2008, Vol. 313 Issue 1-3, p297-302, 6p, 2 Graphs
Publication Year :: 2008
Abstract: Luminous and Ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) contain the most intense regions of star formation in the local universe. Because molecular gas is the fuel for current and future star formation, the physical properties and distribution of the warm, dense molecular gas are key components for understanding the processes and timescales controlling star formation in these merger and merger remnant galaxies. We present new results from a legacy project on the Submillimeter Array which is producing high resolution images of a representative sample of galaxies with log L <subscript> FIR </subscript>>11.4 and D<200 Mpc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjects :: GALAXY formation
INFRARED astronomy
MOLECULAR gas lasers
SUBMILLIMETER astronomy
STAR formation
PHYSICAL sciences research

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