NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0499
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0499 |
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PI: Henry C. Ferguson, Space Telescope Science Institute, ferguson@stsci.edu
Address: 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 20500, United States
CoI: Anatoly Suchkov, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Ray Lucas, Space Telescope Science Institute
Title: A Search for Dusty Halos of Post-Starburst Galaxies
Abstract:
The most vigorously star-forming objects known both locally and at
high redshift are ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGS). The
infrared radiation from these galaxies comes from large quantities of
dust heated by young stars. Elliptical galaxies appear to be the most
likely descendents of ULIRGs. But what happened to the dust? The
favored explanation is that supernova winds drive the dust out of the
galaxy during the starburst phase. If so, and if the timescales for
dust sputtering and evaporation are sufficiently long, we should expect
to find dust at large radii surrounding relatively young merger
remnants. We propose to measure counts and colors of background
galaxies projected behind the halos of such galaxies to search for the
expected attentuation due to a tenuous veil of dust. Finding such dusty
halos would provide the smoking gun for the connection between ULIRGs
and elliptical galaxies, and would provide crucial insight into dust
migration and evolution after starbursts stop forming stars.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0499 |
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