Cm-wavelength Studies of Prebiotic and High-density Tracer Molecules in Starburst/Megamaser/Ultra-luminous IR Galaxies

该计划旨在使用厘米波长技术发现和研究极端星爆星系环境中的中性氢和益生元（和其他）分子。 在这个波长范围内的观测是通过探测较冷、密度较低的气体来补充毫米波长光谱线调查的。 在星系阿普220中，OH-卫星线和甲烷亚胺的详细高分辨率地图将提供对这种星爆环境的物理特性的限制，在这种环境中，星系合并的动力学主导着进化过程。 还将通过HCO+和HCN的线发射研究高密度分子气体。 最后，对一个完整的亮红外星系样本的研究将允许检查纯星爆主导的星系和那些包含隐藏的活动星系核的星系之间的差异，该方案的更广泛的影响包括支持一名研究生进行研究活动，并在夏季支持一名顾问，他是波多黎各一所少数民族教学机构的教授。

This program aims to discover and study neutral hydrogen and prebiotic (and other) molecules in the environments of extreme starburst galaxies using centimeter-wavelength techniques. Observations in this wavelength range are complementary to mm-wavelength spectral-line surveys by probing colder, lower-density gas. Detailed high-resolution maps of OH-satellite lines and methanimine in the galaxy Arp 220 will provide constraints on the physical properties of this starburst environment where the dynamics of galaxy mergers dominate evolutionary processes. High density molecular gas will also be studied via the line emission from HCO+ and HCN. Lastly, a study of a complete sample of luminous infrared galaxies will allow the examination of differences between pure-starburst dominated galaxies and those containing a hidden active galactic nucleus.The broader impacts of this program include support of a graduate student for research activities, and summer support for a consultant who is a professor at a minority teaching institution in Puerto Rico.