Nuclear Starburst Galaxies Research Articles

view Abstract Citations (25) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Long-Slit Spectroscopy of Starburst Galaxies De Robertis, M. M. ; Shaw, Richard A. Abstract We present high-resolution, long-slit spectra of nine optically bright nuclear starburst galaxies (SBGs) selected from the sample of Balzano from which we measure line strengths, line widths, and velocity profiles along the slit in the Hα, [N II], and [S II] emission lines. We show that these galaxies have strong nebular emission (and presumably star formation) extending over several hundred to more than 1000 pc from their centers. We find that the peak of the continuum and line emission profiles are displaced from the center (as defined by the rotation curve) in many of the galaxies. Gas densities and ionization levels in the SBGs fall in the range expected for giant H II region complexes, although the line widths are often much larger. The velocity profile in each galaxy is consistent with a rotation curve in which emission-line material is confined to a disk coaligned with that of the parent galaxy. The starburst must therefore consist of from tens to thousands of massive H II regions rather than one giant, spherical complex. The line widths would then result from an intrinsic velocity dispersion and rotational broadening. Although SBGs and active galaxies occur in similar environments and have similar space densities, we find little similarity (spectroscopically or morphologically), nor any direct evidence for an evolutionary link between them. Time scale arguments suggest that if such a link does exist, then the active galaxy phase must succeed the SBG phase, although probably not in the manner suggested by Weedman. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: June 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166409 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...329..629D Keywords: Active Galactic Nuclei; Astronomical Spectroscopy; H Alpha Line; H Ii Regions; Star Formation; Starburst Galaxies; High Resolution; Seyfert Galaxies; Spectral Line Width; Velocity Distribution; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INTERNAL MOTIONS; GALAXIES: NUCLEI full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (10) NED (9)