Ultra-Luminous Infrared Mergers: Elliptical Galaxies in Formation?
ArXiv astro-ph/0106032 (2001)
Abstract:
We report high quality near-infrared spectroscopy of 12 ultra-luminous infrared galaxy mergers (ULIRGs). Our new VLT and Keck data provide ~0.5" resolution, stellar and gas kinematics of these galaxies most of which are compact systems in the last merger stages. We confirm that ULIRG mergers are 'ellipticals-in-formation'. Random motions dominate their stellar dynamics, but significant rotation is common. Gas and stellar dynamics are decoupled in most systems. ULIRGs fall on or near the fundamental plane of hot stellar systems, and especially on its less evolution sensitive, r(eff)-sigma projection. The ULIRG velocity dispersion distribution, their location in the fundamental plane and their distribution of v(rot)*sin(i)/sigma closely resemble those of intermediate mass (~L*), elliptical galaxies with moderate rotation. As a group ULIRGs do not resemble giant ellipticals with large cores and little rotation. Our results are in good agreement with other recent studies indicating that disky ellipticals with compact cores or cusps can form through dissipative mergers of gas rich, disk galaxies while giant ellipticals with large cores have a different formation history.CO-observations of post-starburst galaxies
ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE 277 (2001) 95-95
Gas flow and star formation in the "Antennae" galaxies
ASTR SOC P 240 (2001) 214-215
Abstract:
The prominent interacting galaxy pair NGC4038/9 contains many active star-forming regions and is continuously forming new star clusters. We present a self-consistent N-body model for this system which includes an SPH gas component. The model qualitatively explains tile apparent concentration of gas in the so-called overlap region between the two nuclei as a bridge of gas connecting the two galaxies. Projected on the sky, the bridge appears as a dense spot of gas. We discuss some implications for the evolution of ultra-luminous infrared galaxies.ISOCAM-CVF 5-12 micron spectroscopy of ultraluminous infrared galaxies
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL 552:2 (2001) 527-543
The European Large Area ISO Survey -: IV.: The preliminary 90-μm luminosity function
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 322:2 (2001) 262-268