Published June 1986
| Version v1
Journal article
Molecular gas in high-luminosity IRAS galaxies
- 1. Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, Amherst, MA
- 2. Palomar Observatory, Pasadena, CA
Description
The paper reports observations of CO(J = 1-0) emission from an unbiased sample of the highest-luminosity IRAS galaxies with the aim of measuring their molecular gas content and determining whether star formation is a viable energy source for these high luminosities. All of the observed galaxies are rich in molecular gas with H2 masses in the range (4 x 10 to the 9th)-(4 x 10 to the 10th) solar masses. Their primary luminosity source appears to be star formation in molecular clouds. The majority, if not all, of the most luminous IRAS galaxies (L-FIR greater than 10 to the 11th solar luminosities) appear to be strongly interacting systems; those with the highest L-FIR/M(H2) ratios are mergers or close contact pairs. 14 references
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Astrophys. J.
- Journal Volume
- 305
- Series
- Astrophys. J.
- Journal Page Range
- L45-L49
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- CODEN
- ASJOA
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 18011760
- Subject category
- S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
- Descriptors DEI
- CARBON MONOXIDE; COSMIC GASES; FAR INFRARED RADIATION; GALAXIES; LUMINOSITY; MOLECULES; STAR EVOLUTION
- Descriptors DEC
- CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; FLUIDS; GASES; INFRARED RADIATION; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RADIATIONS