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| Paper: |
Distributions of H II Regions in Interacting Galaxies |
| Volume: |
423, Galaxy Wars: Star Formation and Stellar Populations in Interacting Galaxies |
| Page: |
293 |
| Authors: |
Keel, W. C.; Frattare, L. M. |
| Abstract: |
We present results from a study of the populations of H II regions in interacting systems based on Hα imaging. The most robust results come from spatial distributions, especially those with luminosity weighting. The H II regions are more centrally concentrated than in similar noninteracting galaxies, and are often concentrated in annular regions, a trend which is enhanced for the more luminous ones. Asymmetries in the H II regions’ locations are not simply related to the current interaction geometry, although we do see preferred dynamical locations in a few systems. We have experimented with use of HST imagery to help separate blended H II regions in ground-based Hα imagery, and see whether the flatter luminosity functions in some of these systems actually trace more luminous individual star-forming regions or result from clumping of smaller episodes. We aim to address whether the interactions simply shape normal star formation ("more of the same") or set off new modes of starbirth, which may differ in its spatial properties or characteristic cluster masses, and to see whether the locations of H II regions trace specific dynamical processes which would be implicated in the SF-interaction connection. This is a progress report, attempting to mop up a rather classical program. |
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