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Star-formation rates, molecular clouds, and the origin of the far-infrared luminosity of isolated and interacting galaxiesThe CO luminosities of 93 galaxies have been determined and are compared with their IRAS FIR luminosities. Strongly interacting/merging galaxies have L(FIR)/L(CO) substantially higher than that of isolated galaxies or galactic giant molecular clouds (GMCs). Galaxies with tidal tails/bridges are the most extreme type with L(FIR)/L(CO) nine times as high as isolated galaxies. Interactions between close pairs of galaxies do not have much effect on the molecular content and global star-formation rate. If the high ratio L(FIR)/L(CO) in strongly interacting galaxies is due to star formation then the efficiency of this process is higher than that of any galactic GMC. Isolated galaxies, distant pairs, and close pairs have an FIR/CO luminosity ratio which is within a factor of two of galactic GMCs with H II regions. The CO luminosities of FIR-luminous galaxies are among the highest observed for any spiral galaxies.
Document ID
19890029287
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Solomon, P. M.
(State Univ. of New York Stony Brook, NY, United States)
Sage, L. J.
(New York, State University Stony Brook, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
November 15, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 334
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
89A16658
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-82-12252
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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