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The Survey for Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies. I. Description and Initial Results
We introduce the Survey for Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies (SINGG),a census of star formation in H I-selected galaxies. The survey consistsof Hα and R-band imaging of a sample of 468 galaxies selected fromthe H I Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS). The sample spans three decadesin H I mass and is free of many of the biases that affect otherstar-forming galaxy samples. We present the criteria for sampleselection, list the entire sample, discuss our observational techniques,and describe the data reduction and calibration methods. This paperfocuses on 93 SINGG targets whose observations have been fully reducedand analyzed to date. The majority of these show a single emission linegalaxy (ELG). We see multiple ELGs in 13 fields, with up to four ELGs ina single field. All of the targets in this sample are detected inHα, indicating that dormant (non-star-forming) galaxies withMHI>~3×107 Msolar are veryrare. A database of the measured global properties of the ELGs ispresented. The ELG sample spans 4 orders of magnitude in luminosity(Hα and R band), and Hα surface brightness, nearly 3 ordersof magnitude in R surface brightness and nearly 2 orders of magnitude inHα equivalent width (EW). The surface brightness distribution ofour sample is broader than that of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)spectroscopic sample, the EW distribution is broader than prism-selectedsamples, and the morphologies found include all common types ofstar-forming galaxies (e.g., irregular, spiral, blue compact dwarf,starbursts, merging and colliding systems, and even residual starformation in S0 and Sa spirals). Thus, SINGG presents a superior censusof star formation in the local universe suitable for further studiesranging from the analysis of H II regions to determination of the localcosmic star formation rate density.
| From young massive star cluster to old globular: the LV-σ0 relationship as a diagnostic tool
We present a new analysis of the properties of the young massive starclusters (YMCs) forming profusely in intense starburst environments,which demonstrates that these objects are plausible progenitors of theold globular clusters (GCs) seen abundantly in the Local Group. Themethod is based on the tight relationship for old GCs between theirV-band luminosities, LV, and (central) velocity dispersions,σ0. We improve the significance of the relationship byincreasing the GC sample size and find that its functional form,LV/Lsolar~σ1.57+/-0.100(km s-1), is fully consistent with previous determinationsfor smaller Galactic and M31 GC samples. The tightness of therelationship for a GC sample drawn from environments as diverse as thosefound in the Local Group implies that its origin must be sought inintrinsic properties of the GC formation process itself. We evolve theluminosities of those YMCs in the local Universe which have velocitydispersion measurements to an age of 12 Gyr, adopting a variety ofinitial mass function (IMF) descriptions, and find that most YMCs willevolve to loci close to, or to slightly fainter luminosities than theimproved GC relationship. In the absence of significant externaldisturbances, this implies that these objects may potentially survive tobecome old GC-type objects over a Hubble time. The main advantage of ournew method is its simplicity. Whereas alternative methods, based ondynamical mass estimates, require one to obtain accurate size estimatesand to make further assumptions, the only observables required here arethe system's velocity dispersion and luminosity. The most importantfactor affecting the robustness of our conclusions is the adopted formof the IMF. We use the results of N-body simulations to confirm thatdynamical evolution of the clusters does not significantly alter ourconclusions about the likelihood of individual clusters surviving tolate times. Finally, we find that our youngest observed clusters areconsistent with having evolved from a relation of the form . Thisrelation may actually correspond to the origin of the GC fundamentalplane.
| The star formation history of Seyfert 2 nuclei
We present a study of the stellar populations in the central ~200 pc ofa large and homogeneous sample comprising 79 nearby galaxies, most ofwhich are Seyfert 2s. The star formation history of these nuclei isreconstructed by means of state-of-the-art population synthesismodelling of their spectra in the 3500-5200 Åinterval. Aquasar-like featureless continuum (FC) is added to the models to accountfor possible scattered light from a hidden active galactic nucleus(AGN).We find the following. (1) The star formation history of Seyfert 2nuclei is remarkably heterogeneous: young starbursts, intermediate-ageand old stellar populations all appear in significant and widely varyingproportions. (2) A significant fraction of the nuclei show a strong FCcomponent, but this FC is not always an indication of a hidden AGN: itcan also betray the presence of a young, dusty starburst. (3) We detectweak broad Hβ emission in several Seyfert 2s after cleaning theobserved spectrum by subtracting the synthesis model. These are mostlikely the weak scattered lines from the hidden broad-line regionenvisaged in the unified model, given that in most of these casesindependent spectropolarimetry data find a hidden Seyfert 1. (4) The FCstrengths obtained by the spectral decomposition are substantiallylarger for the Seyfert 2s which present evidence of broad lines,implying that the scattered non-stellar continuum is also detected. (5)There is no correlation between the star formation in the nucleus andeither the central or overall morphology of the parent galaxies.
| Minor-axis velocity gradients in disk galaxies
We present the ionized-gas kinematics and photometry of a sample of 4spiral galaxies which are characterized by a zero-velocity plateau alongthe major axis and a velocity gradient along the minor axis,respectively. By combining these new kinematical data with thoseavailable in the literature for the ionized-gas component of the S0s andspirals listed in the Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog of Bright Galaxies werealized that about 50% of unbarred galaxies show a remarkable gasvelocity gradient along the optical minor axis. This fraction rises toabout 60% if we include unbarred galaxies with an irregular velocityprofile along the minor axis. This phenomenon is observed all along theHubble sequence of disk galaxies, and it is particularly frequent inearly-type spirals. Since minor-axis velocity gradients are unexpectedif the gas is moving onto circular orbits in a disk coplanar to thestellar one, we conclude that non-circular and off-plane gas motions arenot rare in the inner regions of disk galaxies.Based on observations carried out at the European Southern Observatoryin La Silla (Chile) (ESO 69.B-0706 and 70.B-0338), with the MultipleMirror Telescope which is a joint facility of the SmithsonianInstitution and the University of Arizona, and with the ItalianTelescopio Nazionale Galileo (AOT-5, 3-18) at the Observatorio del Roquede los Muchachos in La Palma (Spain).Table 1 is only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org. Table 5 is only available in electronic format the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) orvia http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/416/507
| The evolution of stars and gas in starburst galaxies
In systems undergoing starbursts the evolution of the young stellarpopulation is expected to drive changes in the emission-line properties.This evolution is usually studied theoretically, with a combination ofevolutionary synthesis models for the spectral energy distribution ofstarbursts and photoionization calculations. In this paper we present amore empirical approach to this issue. We apply empirical populationsynthesis techniques to samples of starburst and HII galaxies in orderto measure their evolutionary state and correlate the results with theiremission-line properties. A couple of useful tools are introduced thatgreatly facilitate the interpretation of the synthesis: (1) anevolutionary diagram, the axes of which are the strengths of the young,intermediate age and old components of the stellar population mix; and(2) the mean age of stars associated with the starburst, . These toolsare tested with grids of theoretical galaxy spectra and found to workvery well even when only a small number of observed properties(absorption-line equivalent widths and continuum colours) is used in thesynthesis.Starburst nuclei and HII galaxies are found to lie on a well-definedsequence in the evolutionary diagram. Using the empirically defined meanstarburst age in conjunction with emission-line data, we have verifiedthat the equivalent widths of Hβ and [OIII] decrease for increasing. The same evolutionary trend was identified for line ratios indicativeof the gas excitation, although no clear trend was identified formetal-rich systems. All these results are in excellent agreement withlong-known, but little tested, theoretical expectations.
| Galaxy interactions - poor starburst triggers. III. A study of a complete sample of interacting galaxies
We report on a study of tidally triggered star formation in galaxiesbased on spectroscopic/photometric observations in the optical/near-IRof a magnitude limited sample of 59 systems of interacting and merginggalaxies and a comparison sample of 38 normal isolated galaxies. From astatistical point of view the sample gives us a unique opportunity totrace the effects of tidally induced star formation. In contrast toresults from previous investigations, our global UBV colours do notsupport a significant enhancement of starforming activity in theinteracting/merging galaxies. We also show that, contrary to previousclaims, there is no significantly increased scatter in the colours ofArp galaxies as compared to normal galaxies. We do find support formoderate (a factor of ~ 2-3) increase in star formation in the verycentres of the interacting galaxies of our sample, contributingmarginally to the total luminosity. The interacting and in particularthe merging galaxies are characterized by increased far infrared(hereafter FIR) luminosities and temperatures that weakly correlate withthe central activity. The LFIR/LB ratio however,is remarkably similar in the two samples, indicating that truestarbursts normally are not hiding in the central regions of the FIRluminous cases. The gas mass-to-luminosity ratio in optical-IR ispractically independent of luminosity, lending further support to thepaucity of true massive starburst galaxies triggered byinteractions/mergers. We estimate the frequency of such cases to be ofthe order of ~ 0.1% of the galaxies in an apparent magnitude limitedsample. Our conclusion is that interacting and merging galaxies, fromthe global star formation aspect, generally do not differ dramaticallyfrom scaled up versions of normal, isolated galaxies. No drastic changewith redshift is expected. One consequence is that galaxy formationprobably continued over a long period of time and did not peak at aspecific redshift. The effects of massive starbursts, like blowoutscaused by superwinds and cosmic reionization caused by starburstpopulations would also be less important than what is normally assumed.Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, LaSilla, Chile.
| Fabry-Pérot Observations Using a New GaAs Photon-counting System
A third-generation image photon-counting system (IPCS) camera ispresented, based on a GaAs photocathode that can achieve a quantumefficiency of up to 23%, which is comparable to a thick CCD but withoutreadout noise. This system is 10 times more sensitive at Hα thanprevious photon-counting cameras. In terms of signal-to-noise ratio, thesystem outperforms CCDs for extremely faint fluxes, includingantireflection-coated, low-noise, thin CCDs. This system, with up to1K×1K pixels, is one of the largest monolithic IPCSs. A uniquecooling system, based on a Ranque-Hilsh vortex tube, is used for thiscamera. Real-time centering is done by a scalable digital signalprocessor board. Astrophysical projects and preliminary results obtainedwith this new camera coupled with a scanning Fabry-Pérotinterferometer at the Cassegrain focus of the 3.6 m ESO telescope, the1.93 m Observatoire de Haute Provence telescope, and the 1.6 mObservatoire du Mont Mégantic telescope are presented.
| Stellar populations in Seyfert 2 galaxies. I. Atlas of near-UV spectra
We have carried out a uniform spectroscopic survey of Seyfert 2 galaxiesto study the stellar populations of the host galaxies. New spectra havebeen obtained for 79 Southern galaxies classified as Seyfert 2 galaxies,7 normal galaxies, and 73 stars at a resolution of 2.2 Å over thewavelength region 3500-5300 Å. Cross-correlation between thestellar spectra is performed to group the individual observations into44 synthesis standard spectra. The standard groups include a solarabundance sequence of spectral types from O5 to M3 for dwarfs, giants,and supergiants. Metal-rich and metal-weak F-K giants and dwarfs arealso included. A comparison of the stellar data with previouslypublished spectra is performed both with the individual spectra and thestandard groups. For each galaxy, two distinct spatial regions areconsidered: the nucleus and the external bulge. Spectroscopic variationsfrom one galaxy to another and from the central to the external regionare briefly discussed. It is found that the central region of a Seyfert2 galaxy, after subtracting the bulge stellar population, always shows anear-UV spectrum similar to one of three representative categories: a)many strong emission lines and only two visible absorption lines (Ca IiK and G band) (Sey2e); b) few emission lines, many absorption lines, anda redder continuum than the previous category (Sey2a); c) an almost flatcontinuum and high-order Balmer lines seen in absorption (Sey2b). Theproportion of Seyfert 2 galaxies belonging to each class is found to be22%, 28%, and 50% respectively. We find no significative differencesbetween morphology distributions of Seyfert 2 galaxies with Balmer linesdetected in absorption and the rest of the sample. This quick lookthrough the atlas indicates that half of Seyfert 2 galaxies harbour ayoung stellar population (about or less than 100 Myr) in their centralregion, clearly unveiled by the high order Balmer series seen inabsorption. Based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, Chile (ESO 65.P-0014(A)). Tables 1-3 and 8 and Fig. A.1(Appendix A) are only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org
| Cold gas and star formation in a merging galaxy sequence
We explore the evolution of the cold gas (molecular and neutralhydrogen) and star formation activity during galaxy interactions, usinga merging galaxy sequence comprising both pre- and post-mergercandidates. Data for this study come from the literature, but aresupplemented by some new radio observations presented here. First, weconfirm that the ratio of far-infrared luminosity to molecular hydrogenmass (LFIRM(H2); star formation efficiency)increases close to nuclear coalescence. After the merging of the twonuclei there is evidence that the star formation efficiency declinesagain to values typical of ellipticals. This trend can be attributed toM(H2) depletion arising from interaction induced starformation. However, there is significant scatter, likely to arise fromdifferences in the interaction details (e.g., disc-to-bulge ratio,geometry) of individual systems. Secondly, we find that the centralmolecular hydrogen surface density, ΣH2,increases close to the final stages of the merging of the two nuclei.Such a trend, indicating gas inflows caused by gravitationalinstabilities during the interaction, is also predicted by numericalsimulations. Furthermore, there is evidence for a decreasing fraction ofcold gas mass from early interacting systems to merger remnants,attributed to neutral hydrogen conversion into other forms (e.g., stars,hot gas) and molecular hydrogen depletion resulting from ongoing starformation. The evolution of the total-radio to blue-band luminosityratio, reflecting the total (disc and nucleus) star formation activity,is also investigated. Although this ratio is on average higher than thatfor isolated spirals, we find a marginal increase along the mergingsequence, attributed to the relative insensitivity of disc starformation to interactions. However, a similar result is also obtainedfor the nuclear radio emission, although galaxy interactions arebelieved to significantly affect the activity (star formation, AGN) inthe central galaxy regions. Nevertheless, the nuclear-radio to blue-bandluminosity ratio is significantly elevated compared with that forisolated spirals. Finally, we find that the FIR-radio flux ratiodistribution of interacting galaxies is consistent with star formationbeing the main energizing source.
| Gas properties of Hii and starburst galaxies: relation with the stellar population
We study the gas emission of galaxies with active star formation,consisting mostly of Hii and starburst galaxies, as well as some Seyfert2 galaxies, and determine chemical and physical parameters. The dataconsist of 19 high signal-to-noise ratio optical templates, a result ofgrouping 185 emission-line galaxy spectra. Underlying stellar populationmodels (from Raimann et al.) were subtracted from the templates in orderto isolate the pure emission component. We analyse the distribution ofthese improved signal-to-noise ratio emission spectra in diagnosticdiagrams and find that the Hii templates show a smaller spread inlog([Oiii]/Hβ) values than the individual galaxies, apparently as aresult of the population subtraction and a better signal-to-noise ratio.We thus suggest the template sequence as a fiducial observational locusfor Hii galaxies which can be used as reference for models. The sequenceof line ratios presented by the Hii galaxies in the diagramlog([Oiii]λ5007/Hβ) versus log([Nii]λ6584/Hα)is primarily owing to the gas metallicity, of which thelog([Nii]/Hα) ratio is a direct estimator. We also study theproperties of the starburst galaxies and those intermediate between Hiiand starburst galaxies, which are more metal rich and sit on moremassive galaxies. We discuss the present results in the frame of arecently proposed equivalent-width diagnostic diagram for emission-linegalaxies (by Rola et al.) and conclude that the observed ranges inW([Oii])/W(Hβ) and W(Hβ) are mostly owing to the non-ionizingstellar population contribution. We propose that W(Hβ) be used asan estimator of this contribution to the continuum, and briefly discussimplications to the cosmological use of Hii galaxies.
| Population synthesis of Hii galaxies
We study the stellar population of galaxies with active star formation,determining ages of the stellar components by means of spectralpopulation synthesis of their absorption spectra. The data consist ofoptical spectra of 185 nearby (z<=0.075) emission-line galaxies. Theyare mostly Hii galaxies, but we also include some starbursts and Seyfert2s, for comparison purposes. They were grouped into 19 highsignal-to-noise ratio template spectra, according to their continuumdistribution, absorption- and emission-line characteristics. Thetemplates were then synthesized with a star cluster spectral base. Thesynthesis results indicate that Hii galaxies are typically age-compositestellar systems, presenting important contributions from generations upto as old as 500Myr. We detect a significant contribution of populationswith ages older than 1Gyr in two groups of Hii galaxies. The agedistributions of stellar populations among starbursts can varyconsiderably despite similarities in the emission-line spectra. In thecase of Seyfert 2 groups we obtain important contributions from the oldpopulation, consistent with a bulge. From the diversity of starformation histories, we conclude that typical Hii galaxies in the localUniverse are not systems presently forming their first stellargeneration.
| Nearby Optical Galaxies: Selection of the Sample and Identification of Groups
In this paper we describe the Nearby Optical Galaxy (NOG) sample, whichis a complete, distance-limited (cz<=6000 km s-1) andmagnitude-limited (B<=14) sample of ~7000 optical galaxies. Thesample covers 2/3 (8.27 sr) of the sky (|b|>20deg) andappears to have a good completeness in redshift (97%). We select thesample on the basis of homogenized corrected total blue magnitudes inorder to minimize systematic effects in galaxy sampling. We identify thegroups in this sample by means of both the hierarchical and thepercolation ``friends-of-friends'' methods. The resulting catalogs ofloose groups appear to be similar and are among the largest catalogs ofgroups currently available. Most of the NOG galaxies (~60%) are found tobe members of galaxy pairs (~580 pairs for a total of ~15% of objects)or groups with at least three members (~500 groups for a total of ~45%of objects). About 40% of galaxies are left ungrouped (field galaxies).We illustrate the main features of the NOG galaxy distribution. Comparedto previous optical and IRAS galaxy samples, the NOG provides a densersampling of the galaxy distribution in the nearby universe. Given itslarge sky coverage, the identification of groups, and its high-densitysampling, the NOG is suited to the analysis of the galaxy density fieldof the nearby universe, especially on small scales.
| Spectral classification of emission-line galaxies
The main goal of this work is to further investigate the classificationof emission-line galaxies from the ``Spectrophotometric Catalogue of HII galaxies'' by Terlevich et al. (1991) in a homogeneous and objectiveway, using the three line-ratio diagrams, called diagnostic diagrams, ofVeilleux & Osterbrock (1987). On the basis of the resultingcatalogue, we critically discuss the classification methods in theoptical range. In particular we compare our classification scheme to theone done by Rola et al. (1997) which is efficient for the classificationof redshifted galaxies. We also propose a new diagnostic diagraminvolving the known intensity ratio R23=([O II],l 3727+[OIII] l 4959+{[O III] l 5007)/Hb which appears to be a very goodcriterion allowing to discriminate the Seyfert 2 from H ii galaxies. Therevised catalogue including 314 narrow-emission-line galaxies contains HII galaxies, Seyfert 2 galaxies, Low Ionization Nuclear Emission-LineRegions (hereafter LINERs) galaxies and some particular types ofgalaxies with the most intriguing ones, called ``ambiguous'', due to theambiguity of their location in the diagnostic diagrams. These galaxiesappear as H II galaxies and as active galactic nuclei (hereafter AGNs)in different diagrams of Veilleux & Osterbrock and constitutecertainly a sample of particularly interesting candidates for a thoroughstudy of connections between starbursts and AGNs. Available inelectronic form only via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5 orhttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| A comprehensive search for extragalactic 6.7-GHz methanol masers
We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to search for6.7-GHz methanol maser emission towards 87 galaxies. We chose the targetsources using several criteria, including far-IR luminosities and thepresence of known OH megamasers. In addition, we searched for methanolmasers in the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253, making a fullspectral-line synthesis image. No emission was detected in any of thegalaxies, with detection limits ranging from 25 to 75 mJy. This issurprising, given the close association of OH and methanol masers inGalactic star formation regions, and significantly constrains models ofOH megamaser emission. This absence of maser emission may be a result oflow methanol abundances in molecular clouds in starburst galaxies.
| Total magnitude, radius, colour indices, colour gradients and photometric type of galaxies
We present a catalogue of aperture photometry of galaxies, in UBVRI,assembled from three different origins: (i) an update of the catalogueof Buta et al. (1995) (ii) published photometric profiles and (iii)aperture photometry performed on CCD images. We explored different setsof growth curves to fit these data: (i) The Sersic law, (ii) The net ofgrowth curves used for the preparation of the RC3 and (iii) A linearinterpolation between the de Vaucouleurs (r(1/4) ) and exponential laws.Finally we adopted the latter solution. Fitting these growth curves, wederive (1) the total magnitude, (2) the effective radius, (3) the colourindices and (4) gradients and (5) the photometric type of 5169 galaxies.The photometric type is defined to statistically match the revisedmorphologic type and parametrizes the shape of the growth curve. It iscoded from -9, for very concentrated galaxies, to +10, for diffusegalaxies. Based in part on observations collected at the Haute-ProvenceObservatory.
| A catalogue of spatially resolved kinematics of galaxies: Bibliography
We present a catalogue of galaxies for which spatially resolved data ontheir internal kinematics have been published; there is no a priorirestriction regarding their morphological type. The catalogue lists thereferences to the articles where the data are published, as well as acoded description of these data: observed emission or absorption lines,velocity or velocity dispersion, radial profile or 2D field, positionangle. Tables 1, 2, and 3 are proposed in electronic form only, and areavailable from the CDS, via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (to130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| The Peculiar Galaxy NGC 1487
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1997AJ....114..102A&db_key=AST
| The Montreal Blue Galaxy Survey.III.Third List of UV-Bright Candidates
We present and discuss the latest addition of the Montreal Blue Galaxy(MBG) survey. Inspection of 59 Curtis Schmidt plates resulted in theidentification of 135 new UV-bright galaxies with B < 15.5. Thisbrings the total number of MBGs to 469. New results of the V/V_m testshow that our survey is complete to B = 14.7. From our most recentspectroscopic follow-up, we confirm the discovery of one new Seyfert 1galaxy and possibly one new Seyfert 2 galaxy. We confirm also the biasof the MBG survey towards the low-excitation and metal rich StarburstNucleus Galaxies (SBNGs). The spectral characteristics of the MBGs aresimilar to those of the infrared luminous IRAS galaxies. As a commoncharacteristic, they show a mean ratio Log([NII]/Hα ) in excess of0.2 dex as compared to normal disk HII regions. In general, the MBGshave lower far-infrared luminosities (LIR < 10(11)Lsun) and are nearer (z < 0.05) than the luminous IRASgalaxies. The distribution of the morphologies of the MBGs indicates ahigh number of early-type spirals (Sb and earlier). Nearly half of thesegalaxies also possess a bar. In our sample, the fraction of galaxieswith bars depends on the morphology and increases towards the late-typespirals. However, if we consider only isolated galaxies, the late-typespirals show a clear tendency to be barred. Signs of a recentinteraction with neighbor galaxies are obvious only in 24% of ourcandidates. Although this number is only a lower limit, it isnevertheless sufficiently low to suggest that in a majority of massivegalaxies the burst of star formation do not depends solely on dynamicalprocesses.
| CO and HI in a southern sample of interacting galaxies. I. The data
Using SEST, the Parkes antenna and the Australia Telescope CompactArray, we have made a survey of the ^12CO(1-0) and HI emission of anoptically-selected sample of ~60 southern interacting and merginggalaxies. In this paper we present the data and determine global massesof neutral gas (in molecular and atomic form) for the observed galaxies.We have detected HI in 26 systems and found that these galaxies haveless than 15% of their gas in molecular form. Figure 3 in its entirelyis only available in electronic form at CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| A study of a complete sample of interacting galaxies. II. Images, colour distributions and spectra.
We present broadband images, two-colour maps and spectra of a magnitudelimited sample of interacting and merging galaxies.
| A Search for Extragalactic Methanol Masers
A sensitive search for 6.7-GHz methanol maser emission has been madetowards 10 galaxies which have yielded detectable microwave molecular-line transitions. These include several that show OH megamaser orsuperluminous H_2_O maser emission. Within the Galaxy, CH_3_OH and OHmasers often occur in the same star formation regions and, in mostcases, the CH_3_OH masers have greater peak flux densities than their OHcounterparts. Thus we might expect CH_3_OH masers to be associated withextragalactic OH maser sources. We failed to detect any emission orabsorption above our 60-mJy detection limit. We conclude that, if thephysical conditions exist to produce CH_3_OH megamaser emission, theyare incompatible with the conditions that produce OH megamaser emission.
| Spectroscopic Observations of ARP / Madore Interacting Galaxies - Part Two - Galaxies with Tails Loops of Material or Debris
We present spectroscopic observations of 103 galaxies from a sample ofinteracting galaxies with tails, loops of material or debris. Radialvelocities, relative emission-line intensity measurements and opticalclassifications are presented. Three new Seyfert candidates areidentified. The frequency of Seyfert-type nuclei in our sample of`strongly' interacting galaxies (3.9 per cent; 4/103) is notsignificantly different from that of the interacting doubles ofcomparably sized galaxies (3.1 per cent; 4/129), which are presumably atan earlier stage of interaction than the galaxies observed in thepresent-study. However, the lack of a suitable control sample for ourinteracting samples prevents us from confirming whether interactions andmergers enhance Seyfert nuclear activity compared to that of non-interacting galaxies. A large fraction of the galaxies in our sampleshow strong H II region type emission lines, which indicate ongoingenhanced star formation activity. Since the systems are at a relativelyearly stage of the merger process and are near the peak of theirstarburst activities, the interstellar gas in the disc must be collectedin the nuclear region on time-scales less than about a few X 10^8^-10^9^yr. Strong H II region type emission lines superimposed on a strongstellar Balmer absorption spectrum are seen in many of the systems inour sample, suggesting a possible recurrent starburst or propagation ofstar-forming regions within the galaxy. High-resolution imaging studiesare required for further analysis of the sample.
| The excitation mechanism of forbidden Fe II 1.644 micron emission in Seyfert and starburst galaxies revisited
The observational properties of forbidden Fe II are studied in galaxieswith starburst nuclei (SBN) and in AGNs. The forbidden Fe II/Br-gammavalue is controlled by the volume ratio of partly ionized to fullyionized regions, since forbidden Fe II emission is excited in partlyionized gas. The depletion effect is less important to the observedforbidden Fe II/Br-gamma ratio, although iron is one of the refractoryelements which are easily depleted into dust grains. In SBNs, forbiddenFe II emission arises mainly from partly ionized regions associated withSNRs. Photodissociation regions situated near OB stars do not contributesignificantly to the observed forbidden Fe II flux. In AGNs, X-rays fromSeyfert nuclei create extended partly ionized zones ion narrow-lineregions from which forbidden Fe II emission arises. This naturallyexplains the properties of AGNs that forbidden Fe II/Br-gamma is largeand forbidden Fe II emission is broad with respect to SBNs.
| On the central surface brightness problem in disk galaxies
We have measured the diameters of a large number of disk galaxies onvarious Sky Surveys in order to examine the problem of the apparentuniformity of the central surface brightness in disk galaxies. From theratio of diameters on the various surveys we find that at least 55percent of the disk galaxies follow this rule. Another 26 percent of thegalaxies have only a very modest increase in diameters on the SRC-Jsurvey when compared to the Palomar survey prints, indicating thepresence of a cutoff in the outer disk. Nineteen percent of the galaxiesmeasured have a large increase in diameter. From their integrated H Iprofiles, these turn out to be mostly dynamically giant galaxies.Several examples are shown. The phenomenon of low surface brightnessextensions is greatly reduced for galaxies in the Virgo cluster. Fromfollow-up observations we conclude that the low surface brightnessgiants contain only about half the amount of luminous material as do'normal' spiral galaxies following the 21.65 law.
| General study of group membership. II - Determination of nearby groups
We present a whole sky catalog of nearby groups of galaxies taken fromthe Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic Database. From the 78,000 objects in thedatabase, we extracted a sample of 6392 galaxies, complete up to thelimiting apparent magnitude B0 = 14.0. Moreover, in order to considersolely the galaxies of the local universe, all the selected galaxieshave a known recession velocity smaller than 5500 km/s. Two methods wereused in group construction: a Huchra-Geller (1982) derived percolationmethod and a Tully (1980) derived hierarchical method. Each method gaveus one catalog. These were then compared and synthesized to obtain asingle catalog containing the most reliable groups. There are 485 groupsof a least three members in the final catalog.
| Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II - The catalogue of groups and group members
This paper gives a catalog of the groups and associations obtained bymeans of a revised hierarchical algorithm applied to a sample of 4143galaxies with diameters larger than 100 arcsec and redshifts smallerthan 6000 km/s. The 264 groups of galaxies obtained in this way (andwhich contain at least three sample galaxies) are listed, with the looseassociations surrounding them and the individual members of eachaggregate as well; moreover, the location of every entity among 13regions corresponding roughly to superclusters is specified. Finally,1729 galaxies belong to the groups, and 466 to the associations, i.e.,the total fraction of galaxies within the various aggregates amounts to53 percent.
| Southern Sky Redshift Survey - The catalog
The catalog of radial velocities for galaxies which comprise thediameter-limited sample of the Southern Sky Redshift Survey ispresented. It consolidates the data of observations carried out at theLas Campanas Observatory, Observatorio Nacional, and South AfricanAstronomical Observatory. The criteria used for the sample selection aredescribed, as well as the observational procedures and the techniqueutilized to obtain the final radial velocities. The intercomparisonbetween radial velocity measurements from different telescopes indicatesthat the final data base is fairly homogeneous with a typical error ofabout 40 km/s. The sample is at present 90 percent complete, and themissing galaxies are predominantly objects with very low surfacebrightness for which it is very difficult to obtain optical redshifts.
| Environmental properties of violently star-forming galaxies
A sample of 71 objects from the Spectrophotometric Catalogue of H IIgalaxies (Terlevich et al., 1990) has been searched for neighboringobjects. According to the metallicity, IRAS colors, morphology, andenvironmental circumstances, the objects have been classified in sixdifferent groups. Specific denominations are proposed for each class,from nuclear starburst galaxies to irregular blue galaxies and bluecompact dwarf galaxies. Blue irregular and blue compact objects havelower metallicities and higher f25 microns/f100 microns color indicesthan nuclear starburst objects, indicating different evolutionaryhistories. All the nuclear starbursts and blue irregulars have massivecompanions, but only 2/3 of the blue compacts do have. The hypothesis ofcloud-cloud collisions or galaxy-galaxy interactions to understand thetriggering mechanism for the violent star formation is brieflydiscussed.
| A study of a complete sample of interacting galaxies. I - Presentation of the sample and the UBVRIJHK photometry
An investigation is presented on what effects galaxy-galaxy interactionhas on the properties of the involved galaxies. A magnitude limitedsample of interacting galaxies is presented, together with a controlsample of isolated galaxies. The Cousins UBVRI and Johnson JHKphotometry of all galaxies included in the samples is also presented.
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