Tidal events and galactic activity

Researchers report some results from recent and ongoing work which relate to the connection between nuclear activity and tidal interactions. They suggest that tidal events are in general a necessary but not sufficient condition for nuclear activation. They also suggest that nuclear activity generally develops at a 'late stage' of a tidal encounter, following star-formation and dust evaporation, and when the most obvious morphological disturbances may have disappeared. The quantitative results from quasi-stellar object imaging, radio source evolution, HI observations, and an Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) source survey are given in tabular form.