We present the results of X-ray imaging and spectroscopic analysis of a sample of Seyfert 2 galaxies that contain starbursts, based on their optical and UV characteristics. These composite galaxies exhibit extended, soft, thermal X-ray emission, which we attribute to their starburst components. Comparing their X-ray and far-infrared properties with ordinary Seyfert and starburst galaxies, we id...

Star-forming galaxies (SFGs) display a continuous specific star formation rate (sSFR) distribution which can be approximated by two log-normal functions: one encompassing the galaxy main sequence, the other a rarer, starbursting population. Starburst sSFRs can be regarded as outcome of a physical process (plausibly merging) taking the mathematical form of a log-normal boosting kernel that enhan...

This paper presents an analysis of the correlation between the far-infrared (FIR) and the radio emission of starburst galaxies. Data for interacting galaxies, many of which are undergoing a starburst, and for normal galaxies have been analysed and compared in order to test for any influence of the star-formation activity on the ratio between the FIR and the radio emission at 2.4 GHz, q 2.4GHz. ...

Mid-infrared (MIR) imaging and spectroscopic observations are presented for a well defined , sample of eight closely interacting (CLO) pairs of spiral galaxies that have overlapping disks and show enhanced far-infrared (FIR) emission. The goal is to study the star formation distribution in CLO pairs, with special emphasis on the role of 'overlap starbursts'. Observations were made with the Infr...

We present deep Gemini GMOS optical spectroscopy of nine luminous quasars at redshifts z ∼ 0.5, drawn from the SDSS type 2 quasar sample. Our targets were selected to have high intrinsic luminosities (MV < −26 mag) as indicated by the [O III] λ5007 Å emission-line luminosity (L[O III]). Our sample has a median black hole mass of ∼ 10M⊙ inferred assuming the local MBH-σ∗ relation and a median Ed...

We present deep spectroscopic and imaging data of the host galaxies of Mrk 1014, IRAS 07598+6508, and Mrk 231. These objects form part of both the QSO and the ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIG) families, and may represent a transition stage in an evolutionary scenario. Our imaging shows that all three objects have highly perturbed hosts with tidal tails and destroyed disks, and appear to be i...

We present the first fully sampled map of CO (1-0) emission from M82 covering the entire galaxy. Our map contains a ∼ 12 ×15 kpc area. We find that extraplanar CO emission, previously reported at short distances above the galactic plane, extends to heights of up to 6 kpc above the disk. Some of this emission is associated with tidal arms seen in HI, implying either that M82 contained substantia...

We present a ”feedback compression” model to describe the galactic spheroid formation and its relation with the central nuclear activity. We suggest that the star formation itself can serve as the ”positive feedback” in some extremely dense region to trigger the starburst. The star formation rate as well as the related stellar feedback-induced turbulence will be maximized under the regulation o...

Photon-dominated regions (PDRs) are powerful molecular line emitters in external galaxies. They are expected in galaxies with high rates of massive star formation due to either starburst (SB) events or starburst coupled with active galactic nuclei (AGN) events. We have explored the PDR chemistry for a range of physical conditions representing a variety of galaxy types. Our main result is a demo...

We present an analysis of the mid-infrared emission lines for a sample of 12 low metallicity Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxies based on high resolution observations obtained with Infrared Spectrograph on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. We compare our sample with a local sample of typical starburst galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs), to study the ionization field of starbursts over a ...