Neutral hydrogen in starburst galaxies

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/114335· OSTI ID:6465185

Jackson, J M; Barrett, A H; Armstrong, J T; Ho, P T.P.

A survey of neutral-hydrogen 21 cm emission from a sample of starburst galaxies was conducted in order to derive their global properties. Of the 72 galaxies surveyed, H I was detected in 47. Average mass-to-light ratios log (MH/Lpg) = -0.7 + or - 0.4 and log (MT/Lpg) = 0.5 + or - 0.4. The masses and luminosities span the range 10 to the 10th-12th solar masses and 10 to the 9th-11th solar luminosities, typical of normal late spirals. The starburst activity, as measured by the luminosity of the H-alpha line, correlates roughly with the mass of atomic hydrogen, the total mass, and the total photographic luminosity of the host galaxy. It is suggested that the occurrence of a nuclear starburst and the strength of such an event probably do not depend strongly on the large-scale properties of the galaxy. 40 references.

• Research Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA; California Univ., Berkeley; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA; Koeln Universitaet, Cologne, West Germany; Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 6465185
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 93; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BALMER LINES
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
H1 REGIONS
HYDROGEN
LUMINOSITY
MASS
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STAR EVOLUTION