Luminous Infrared Galaxies in the Local Universe

We study the morphology and star formation properties of 159 local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) using multicolor images from Data Release 2 (DR2) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The LIRGs are selected from a cross-correlation analysis between the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2006-10, Vol.649 (2), p.722-729
Main Authors: Wang, J. L, Xia, X. Y, Mao, S, Cao, C, Wu, Hong, Deng, Z. G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
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Summary:We study the morphology and star formation properties of 159 local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) using multicolor images from Data Release 2 (DR2) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The LIRGs are selected from a cross-correlation analysis between the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) survey and SDSS. They are all brighter than 15.9 mag in the r band and below redshift 60.1, and so can be reliably classified morphologically. We find that the fractions of interacting/merging and spiral galaxies are 648% and 640%, respectively. Our results complement and confirm the decline (increase) in the fraction of spiral (interacting/merging) galaxies from z 61 to 0.1, as found by Melbourne et al. About 75% of spiral galaxies in the local LIRGs are barred, indicating that bars may play an important role in triggering star formation rates 20 M sub( )yr super(-1) in the local universe. Compared with high-redshift LIRGs, local LIRGs have lower specific star formation rates, smaller cold gas fractions, and a narrower range of stellar masses. Local LIRGs appear to be either merging galaxies forming intermediate-mass elliptical galaxies, or spiral galaxies undergoing high star formation activities regulated by bars.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1086/506902