Infrared Properties of Interacting Galaxies : from Spirals to ULIRGs
Vassilis CHARMANDARIS
University of Crete
Résumé :
Interactions between galaxies lead to massive star formation over
extended spatial scales where the properties of interstellar
radiation field, gas and dust content vary substantially.
Interactions were more frequent in the past and it is the principal
mechanism of galaxy evolution, often leading to the formation of
ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). While rare in the local
Universe, ULIRGs play a dominant role in producing the far-infrared
background as well as the star formation energy density at high
redshifts. I will review the mid infrared properties of interacting
galaxies as these were revealed using observations from the Spitzer
Space Telescope. An emphasis will be given to the use of variations
in the infrared spectral energy distributions as a tracer of the
physical mechanism dominating the energy production in these systems.
