| VIXENS is a survey of 20 interacting/starburst galaxies
using the integral field unit spectrograph VIRUS-P at McDonald
Observatory. The goal of our survey is to investigate the relation between star formation
and gas content in the extreme environments of interacting galaxy pairs and mergers on
spatially resolved scales of 0.2-0.7 kpc. Galaxy interactions
drastically change the interstellar medium as they lead to large
supercritical gas densities via shocks and gravitational torques,
which drive and pile gas into the central regions. Because of this
extreme build up of gas, these systems host some of the most
powerful sites of star formation in the Universe.
Our survey will use the H-alpha recombination line from VIRUS-P, as well as SPITZER, and GALEX data to investigate star formation. We will use archival CO(J=1-0) and HI maps, as well as maps of dense HCN(J=1-0) gas from CARMA (P.I. A. Heiderman) and CO(J=3-2) from the SMA (P.I. C. Wilson). |
Our Team: |
VIRUS-P Observations and ancillary data collection status for VIXENS, as well as information on our sample galaxies can be found here
NEW! Our paper on M51a from the VENGA Survey:
Spatially Resolved Star Formation Law From Integral Field Spectroscopy: VIRUS-P Observations of NGC 5194
The VIXENS sample is shown above. The white/red boxes are and overlay of VIRUS-P field of view and the yellow lines indicate a scale of 10 kpc.
Last updated 08/20/09 by A. Heiderman