Adaptive Optics Imaging Survey of Luminous Infrared Galaxies
Abstract
We present high resolution imaging observations of a sample of previously unidentified far-infrared galaxies at z < 0.3. The objects were selected by cross-correlating the IRAS Faint Source Catalog with the VLA FIRST catalog and the HST Guide Star Catalog to allow for adaptive optics observations. We found two new ULIGs (with L_FIR equal to or greater than 10^{12} L_sun) and 19 new LIGs (with L_FIR equal to or greater than 10^{11} L_sun). Twenty of the galaxies in the sample were imaged with either the Lick or Keck adaptive optics systems in H or K'. Galaxy morphologies were determined using the two dimensional fitting program GALFIT and the residuals examined to look for interesting structure. The morphologies reveal that at least 30% are involved in tidal interactions, with 20% being clear mergers. An additional 50% show signs of possible interaction. Line ratios were used to determine powering mechanism; of the 17 objects in the sample showing clear emission lines - four are active galactic nuclei and seven are starburst galaxies. The rest exhibit a combination of both phenomena.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0603401,
title = {Adaptive Optics Imaging Survey of Luminous Infrared Galaxies},
author = {Edward A. Laag and Gabriela Canalizo and Wil van Breugel and Elinor L. Gates and Wim de Vries and S. Adam Stanford},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0603401},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
29 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in AJ