Spitzer IRAC Observations of Interacting Galaxies from 0 < z < 3.01

Abstract

We have observed over 100 interacting galaxies (IGs) with Spitzer IRAC as part of a detailed study of the their properties (see also Zezas, et al. in this volume). The majority of sources are nearby. Precise IRAC imaging photometry of these galaxies finds a wide range of colors in these systems, and correlative spectroscopic data suggests the colors are reflected by composition that is in turn reflective of age; orientation also plays a role. We have also observed a distant pair of interacting galaxies at z=3.01, a HyLIG, EGS20 J1418+5236 (Huagg et al. 2006), and find that, like the nearby systems, it has similar processes at work albeit in a hyperactive way.

To overcome limitations of some previous studies of IGs, we observed two complementary nearby samples, one selected on the basis of galaxy separation, and the other selected on a morphological basis. Figure 1 below is a summary IRAC [3.6um]-[4.5um] versus [5.8um]-[8.0um] color-color plot of these IGs. Five generic regions emerge: ellipticals near (0,-0.1), early-stage IGS around (1.5, -0.1), Seyfert 1s around (1.3, 0.5), Seyfert 2s around (1.5, 1.2), and LINERS/HII galaxies centered at 2.2, 0.2). These systems are each characterized by spectral dust features in the IRAC bands that are strong enough to influence and]or mirror the underlying stellar continuum colors. The arrows suggest possible evolutionary development.