Triggering Star Formation by Galaxy-Galaxy Interactions

TISSERA, P. B.; ALONSO, M. S.; LAMBAS, D. G.; COLDWELL, G.

Sydney, Australia

Simposio; IAU Symposium: Recycling intergalactic and interestellar matter; 2003

Union Astronómica Internacional (IAU)

We analyzed the effects of having a close companion on the star formation activity of galaxies in the 8K galaxy pair catalog selected from the 2dFGRS. We found that, statistically, galaxies with rp < 25 h-1 kpc and Delta V < 100 km s-1 have enhanced star formation with respect to isolated galaxies with the same luminosity and redshift distribution. Our results suggest that the physical processes at work during tidal interactions can overcome the effects of environment, except in dense regions.