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Star formation triggered by galaxy collisions

Nature volume 395, pages 859–862 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly clear that collisions between galaxies play an important role in galaxy evolution. The ultraluminous infrared galaxies are predominantly powered by enormous star-formation events that are triggered in the last phases of such collisions. These bursts occur just before the galaxies merge to form single elliptical galaxies.

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Figure 1: Galaxy collision triggers starburst in the ‘Antennae’ system (NGC 4038/39).
Figure 2: The ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp220.
Figure 3: ISO infrared spectra and the new ISO diagnostic diagram.
Figure 4: Snapshots of the morphology of the gas and young stellar components (representing distribution and rate of star formation) of a collision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, 85740, Garching, Germany

    Reinhard Genzel, Dieter Lutz & Linda Tacconi

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  1. Reinhard Genzel
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  2. Dieter Lutz
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  3. Linda Tacconi
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Genzel, R., Lutz, D. & Tacconi, L. Star formation triggered by galaxy collisions. Nature 395, 859–862 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/27597

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