Galaxies 09: Assembly, Gas Content and Star Formation History of Galaxies
Karen O'Neil
NRAO, GB
Gas and Star Formation in Massive Low Surface Brightness Galaxies
Massive low surface brightness galaxies have disk central
surface brightnesses at least one magnitude fainter than the night sky,
but total magnitudes and masses that show they are among the largest
galaxies known. Like all low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies, massive
LSB galaxies are often in the midst of star formation yet their stellar
light has remained diffuse, raising the question of how star formation
is proceeding within these systems. HI observations have played a
crucial role in studying LSB galaxies as they are typically extremely
gas rich. In the past few years we have more than quadrupled the total
number of massive LSB galaxies, primarily through HI surveys. To clarify
their structural parameters and stellar and gas content, we have
undertaken a multi-wavelength study of these enigmatic systems. The
results of this study, which includes HI, CO, optical, near UV, and far
UV images of the galaxies, combined with recent simulations on the
formation of massive LSB galaxies, will provide the most in depth study
done to date of how, when, and where star formation proceeds within this
unique subset of the galaxy population.
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