[Previous] | [Session 34] | [Next]
J.A. Surace (SIRTF Science Center)
Extremely luminous infrared galaxies are almost always associated with major galaxy merger activity and have been implicated in everything from the triggering of quasars to the formation of elliptical galaxies. While highly extinguished, these merger systems are still very luminous in the ultraviolet. Although in some cases this UV emission is associated with an active nucleus, in the majority of cases it is the result of massive star formation associated with the merger. The spatial structure of the UV emission is radically different than that of the infrared, implying a strong dependence on dust geometry. Implications of this result for predictions regarding high-redshift galaxies are discussed. Early results from STIS spectroscopy are also presented.