Starbursts triggered by cloud compression in interacting galaxies

Jog, CJ (1999) Starbursts triggered by cloud compression in interacting galaxies. In: Symposia - International Astronomical Union (186). pp. 235-242.

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Abstract

We propose a physical mechanism for the triggering of starbursts in interacting spiral galaxies by shock compression of the pre-existing disk giant molecular clouds (GMCs). We show that as a disk GMC tumbles into the central region of a galaxy following a galactic tidal encounter, it undergoes a radiative shock compression by the pre-existing high pressure of the central molecular intercloud medium. The shocked outer shell of a GMC becomes gravitationally unstable, which results in a burst of star formation in the initially stable GMC. In the case of colliding galaxies with physical overlap such as Arp 244, the cloud compression is shown to occur due to the hot, high-pressure remnant gas resulting from the collisions of atomic hydrogen gas clouds from the two galaxies. The resulting values of infrared luminosity agree with observations. The main mode of triggered star formation is via clusters of stars, thus we can naturally explain the formation of young, luminous star clusters observed in starburst galaxies.

Item Type:	Editorials/Short Communications
Publication:	Symposia - International Astronomical Union
Publisher:	KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	29 Jun 2011 13:46
Last Modified:	29 Jun 2011 13:46
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/38787

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