Star Formation in Galaxy Mergers: Scaling up a universal process or a violent mode of SF?

Abstract

I briefly review some measures of star formation rates in galaxies and discuss their respective uncertainties before outlining the range of star formation rates encountered in starbursts from isolated dwarf through massive gas-rich interacting systems. I present our current understanding of molecular cloud masses and structures and on star formation processes and efficiencies in starburst and interacting galaxies. Star cluster formation is an important mode of star formation, in particular in strong star formation regimes. I discuss the role of star clusters and their properties in helping us assess the question if star formation is a universal process allowing for considerable scaling or if there's two different regimes for normal and violent SF.