2000/09/13 by Jeremy Darling, Riccardo Giovanelli, Darling, Jeremy +1
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0009205
2 pages, 1 figure; requires newpasp.sty. To appear in the proceedings of the conference "Gas and Galaxy Evolution" (ASP Conference Series), eds. J. Hibbard, M. Rupen, and J. van Gorkom
arxiv created 2000/09/13 · openalex publication_date 2000/09/13 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present the current results of a survey for OH megamasers (OHMs) underway at the Arecibo Observatory. The survey is 2/3 complete and has produced a high OHM detection rate (1 in 6) from a redshift-selected sample of IRAS galaxies. The survey will relate the OHM luminosity function to the galaxy merger rate, allowing subsequent blind OHM surveys to measure the galaxy merger rate as a function of cosmic time. The survey has also made the first detection of strong variability in OHMs. Variability will provide a powerful tool for understanding the small-scale physical settings and mechanisms of OHMs.