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Title:
IRAS 04296+2923: A Nearby Luminous Infrared Galaxy in Hiding
Authors:
Meier, David S.; Turner, J. L.; Beck, S. C.; Gorjian, V.; Tsai, C.; Van Dyk, S. D.
Affiliation:
AA(New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology), AB(University of California, Los Angeles), AC(Tel Aviv University, Israel), AD(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), AE(University of California, Los Angeles), AF(Spitzer Science Center, Caltech)
Publication:
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #445.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.328
Publication Date:
01/2009
Origin:
AAS
Bibliographic Code:
2009AAS...21344503M

Abstract

LIRGs that are close enough for observations to resolve their internal structure are valuable subjects for studying the details of the most energetic star formation. We present the first comprehensive look at the local luminous IR galaxy IRAS 04296+2923. This barred spiral galaxy is among the half dozen closest (D=29 Mpc) LIRGs, but has been neglected because of its location behind the Taurus molecular cloud. Palomar J and Pa α images, VLA continuum maps from λ = 20 - 1.3 cm, and subarcsecond Keck LWS images at 11.7 μm and 18.75 μm reveal that IRAS 04296+2923 has a highly concentrated central starburst. The central burst, driven by 105 O7 stars and confined to a nuclear region only 50 pc across, accounts for 1/2 of the galaxy's total IR luminosity. Within this nuclear burst, half of the star formation originates in two SSC-sized giant HII regions in a region only 10 pc across. OVRO CO(1-0) observations reveal that IRAS 04296+2923 is one of the most gas rich galaxies in the local universe, with a total molecular mass of 6x109 Mo over the central 4 kpc. Molecular gas is centrally concentrated, with MH2 equivalent to that of the entire Milky Way concentrated into the inner half kpc radius nuclear region, presumably funneled in by the bar flow. Our comparison of the starburst and molecular gas suggests that IRAS 04296+2923, whose central starburst is currently forming stars at the rate of 5-10 Mo yr-1, is at the beginning of a 100 Myr period as a LIRG. VLA HI observations suggest that IRAS 04296+2923 is sitting in a small group of interacting galaxies, unknown till now, which may be the trigger of this starburst. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation through the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and grant AST-0071276.
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