Luminous IR Galaxies in a Merger Sequence: BIMA CO Imaging

Abstract

In order to trace observationally the conditions in the interstellar medium (ISM) that lead to starbursts, we have used the newly expanded Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) millimeter-wave array to map the molecular ISM in a sample of LIGs chosen to represent different phases of the interacting/merging process. CO images of 6 galaxy mergers at the early/intermediate stage are shown here and preliminary results are summarized.

4 pages including a postscript figure; talk presentation at IAU Symp. 186 "Galaxy Interactions at Low and High Redshift", J. Barnes & D. Sanders (eds.) in press