2000/11/23 by B. M. Poggianti, Poggianti, B. M.
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0011430
6 pages, 5 postscript figures, Springer Latex macro. Invited talk, to appear in the proceedings of the meeting "Starbursts Near and Far", Ringberg Castle (D), 10-15 Sep 2000
arxiv created 2000/11/23 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
This contribution presents the optical spectral properties of FIR-luminous galaxies, whose distinctive feature is often the simultaneous presence in the spectra of a strong \rm Hδ line in absorption and of emission lines (e(a) spectra). A discrepancy between the star formation rate estimated from the FIR luminosity and that derived from the \rm Hα luminosity persists even after having corrected the \rm Hα flux for dust according to the observed Balmer decrement. It is shown that the e(a) spectrum can be reproduced assuming a current starburst and dust extinction affecting the youngest stellar populations much more than the older stars.