Galaxy Formation and Evolution - IAP Research Group

Date	Subject	Presented by
13 march 2008	What can we learn about submillimeter galaxies from high resolution interferometric imaging? Recent studies of the FIR background have demonstrated that up to half the background radiation is contributed by dusty starbursts and AGN at high redshift. Much of this contribution has been resolved into point sources at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths using SCUBA, MAMBO and similar instruments. However, a full understanding of these so-called submillimeter galaxies has been hindered by the relatively poor resolution of millimeter and submillimeter cameras. High resolution submillimeter interferometric imaging offers powerful insights by providing -- for example -- both precise positions for identification of multiwavelength counterparts, and constraints on the physical scale of the starburst. I will review two projects using the SMA to image submillimeter galaxies: (1) complete interferometric follow-up of a flux-limited sample of sources and evidence for a high redshift population of submillimeter galaxies, and (2) identification of counterparts in a submillimeter galaxy with multiple radio counterparts. I will also discuss prospects for future work with the SMA in particular, and eventually next generation instruments like ALMA.	Josh Younger Harvard-Smithsonian CfA