The Role of Interactions in the Evolution of Highly Star-forming Early-Type (Sa-Sab) Spiral Galaxies
Abstract
We present a search for the signatures of galaxy-galaxy interactions in the neutral gas of early-type spirals. New neutral hydrogen observations for four highly star-forming early-type spirals are presented here, along with H I data for three additional galaxies from other sources. H I maps of six of seven galaxies reveal unambiguous signs of a recent encounter, via tidal tails and H I bridges. Most of these galaxies appear undisturbed in the optical, and these interactions probably would have gone unnoticed without H I mapping. Such high rates of interaction suggest that galactic encounters may play an important role in the evolution of early-type spiral galaxies.
- Publication:
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The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1086/375325
- Bibcode:
- 2003AJ....125.3005H
- Keywords:
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- Galaxies: Evolution;
- Galaxies: Interactions;
- Galaxies: ISM;
- Galaxies: Spiral