High-Resolution Mid-Infrared Imaging of Infrared-luminous Galaxies

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (42) References (46) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS High-Resolution Mid-Infrared Imaging of Infrared-luminous Galaxies Miles, J. W. ; Houck, J. R. ; Hayward, T. L. ; Ashby, M. L. N. Abstract We present high-resolution mid-infrared (~10 micron) imaging of a flux-limited sample of galaxies with far-infrared luminosity L_FIR_ > 10^11^ L_sun_. This work was done to investigate whether the energy generation mechanism powering these infrared-luminous galaxies comes from massive bursts of star formation or from active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our images trace the spatial extent of the warm (~>200 K) dust, which must lie close to the heating source. The majority of the sample galaxies are extended, which implies a starburst as the source of at least part of the energy. However, most of the galaxies also contain an unresolved nucleus, so the presence of an AGN cannot be ruled out. We argue that the observations are consistent with an evolutionary model in which the infrared-luminous galaxies are seen as dusty cocoons for the birth of quasars. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: July 1996 DOI: 10.1086/177412 Bibcode: 1996ApJ...465..191M Keywords: INFRARED: GENERAL; GALAXIES: STARBURST; GALAXIES: NUCLEI; GALAXIES: ACTIVE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (15) NED (10)