Vigorous star formation in galactic nuclei
dc.contributor.author
Puxley, Philip John
en
dc.date.accessioned
2018-01-31T11:35:20Z
dc.date.available
2018-01-31T11:35:20Z
dc.date.issued
1989
dc.description.abstract
en
dc.description.abstract
This thesis presents a study of vigorous star formation in the nuclei of nearby
galaxies. A variety of techniques have been employed to investigate several aspects of
this phenomenon.
en
dc.description.abstract
Analysis of m i d - an d far-infrared data, taken by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, suggests that am o n g s t nearby spiral galaxies the presence of a stellar bar is a
necessary condition for the existence of vigorous star-formation activity. Such regions
contribute, on average, one third of the luminosity of the host galaxy.
en
dc.description.abstract
Medium-resolution radio continuum observations s h o w that active star formation
occurs in the central regions of galaxies, supporting the hypothesis that it is caused by
a bar-driven inflow of disk material.
en
dc.description.abstract
Near-infrared spectrophotometry has been used to study several of these highly
dust-obscured regions in greater detail. Detection of the hydrogen recombination line
Brq, which arises in photoionized gas, is further evidence for the presence of a p o p u
lation of massive stars. M e asurements of molecular hydrogen lines demonstrate that
this gas is also photo-excited, in contrast with previous studies. Models of the gas
excitation in star-forming regions are constructed an d comparison of the predicted line
intensities with observations yields information regarding the gas density an d structure
of the complexes.
en
dc.description.abstract
The ionized gas in the archetypal starburst galaxy M 82 is examined in greater
detail through measurements made in mm-wavelength recombination lines ( H 4 0 and
H53a). These observations avoid the problems which occur when shorter-wavelength
lines are employed since they are unaffected by dust attenuation. The ionization state
of the gas an d the total luminosity are used to infer the range of stellar masses present
in this galaxy. This range may be very narrow.
en
dc.identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/27222
dc.publisher
The University of Edinburgh
en
dc.relation.ispartof
Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2017 Block 16
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dc.relation.isreferencedby
en
dc.title
Vigorous star formation in galactic nuclei
en
dc.type
Thesis or Dissertation
en
dc.type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
en
dc.type.qualificationname
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
en
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