The Diverse Population of ULIRGs

Abstract

We present results from an on-going Hubble Space Telescope (HST) survey of a large sample of ULIRGs (Ultra-Luminous IR Galaxies). New ground-based observations are now being used to complement the HST data and to assist in the interpretation of these complex objects. A rich spectroscopic, morphological, and dynamical diversity is found within the ULIRG population, nearly 100% of which are merger and/or collision remnants. The consequences of this diversity may apply to the interpretation of distant submm/FIR sources and their subsequent evolution.

3 pages. Paper to appear in the proceedings of the conference "FIRSED - Far-Infrared and Submillimeter Spectral Energy Distributions of Active and Starburst Galaxies", edited by I. van Bemmel, B. Wilkes, & P.Barthel, to be published in Elsevier New Astronomy Reviews