Related papers: Ultra-Luminous Infrared Mergers: Elliptical Galaxi…

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) near-infrared high-resolution imaging from the 3D-HST survey, we analyze the morphology and structure of 502 ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; $L_{\rm…

Essentially all Ultra-Luminous IR Galaxies (ULIRGs) are in disturbed, interacting or merging systems. It is known that interactions tend to induce galactic starbursts. Thus, elliptical galaxies which are formed in mergers will tend to have…

We present new near-infrared Keck and VLT spectroscopic data on the stellar dynamics in late stage, ultra-luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) mergers . We now have information on the structural and kinematic properties of 18 ULIRGs, 8 of which…

We present results from two mid-infrared imaging programs of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) and fine-structure elliptical galaxies. The former are known to nearly all be recent mergers between two gas-rich spiral galaxies, while…

We present results from our Very Large Telescope large program to study the dynamical evolution of local Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and QSOs. This paper is the second in a series presenting the stellar kinematics of 54 ULIRGs,…

We present results from our VLT Large Program to study the dynamical evolution of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs). We have so far obtained near-infrared high-resolution ISAAC spectra of 53 local ULIRGs at several merger timescales…

We present first results from our Very Large Telescope large program to study the dynamical evolution of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), which are the products of mergers of gas-rich galaxies. The full data set consists of high…

In a large sample of ULIRGs imaged with HST, we have identified a significant subsample that shows evidence for multiple mergers. The evidence is seen among two classes of ULIRGs: (1) those with multiple remnant nuclei in their core,…

We have used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to study a large sample of ultraluminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs). With a rich legacy database of 150 high-resolution images, we are studying the fine-scale structure of this unique collection of…

This paper reviews the recent results from a comprehensive investigation of the most luminous mergers in the local universe, the ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) and the quasars. First, the frequency of occurrence and importance of…

Ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with multiple ($\ge 3$) nuclei are frequently observed. It has been suggested that these nuclei are produced by multiple major mergers of galaxies. The expected rate of such mergers is, however, too…

In the complete sample of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) compiled by Kim (1995) about 5% consists of widely separated galaxies which are presumably in the early phase of interaction. This fact is contrary to the conventional view…

Mergers in the local universe present a unique opportunity for studying the transformations of galaxies in detail. Presented here are recent results, based on multi-wavelength, high-resolution imaging and medium resolution spectroscopy,…

Many studies and simulations suggest gas-rich mergers do not contribute significantly to the overall star-formation rate and total mass function of galaxies. The velocity dispersions (sigma) of Luminous & Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies…

Ever since their discovery in the 1970's, UltraLuminous InfraRed Galaxies (ULIRGs; classically Lir>10^12Lsun) have fascinated astronomers with their immense luminosities, and frustrated them due to their singularly opaque nature, almost in…

We present a study of the dynamical evolution of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), merging galaxies of infrared luminosity >10^12 L_sun. During our Very Large Telescope large program, we have obtained ISAAC near-infrared,…

We present a new catalog of 118 Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and one Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy (HLIRG) by crossmatching AKARI all-sky survey with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10) and the Final Data…

We have studied the dynamics and masses of a sample of ten nearby luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies (LIRGS and ULIRGs), using 2.3 micron CO absorption line spectroscopy and near-infrared H- and Ks-band imaging. By combining…

Using deep 100-160 micron observations in GOODS-S from the GOODS-H survey, combined with HST/WFC3 NIR imaging from CANDELS, we present the first morphological analysis of a complete, FIR selected sample of 52 ULIRGs at z~2. We also make use…

(ABRIDGED) Star-forming small galaxies made out of collisional debris have been found in a variety of merging systems. So far only a few of them are known in ULIRGs although they show clear signs of interactions. Whether external star…