High-Resolution Imaging of Faint Blue Galaxies

Abstract

We have used HRCam on the CFHT to obtain subarcsecond images of 26 galaxies with z=0.1--0.7. The primary sample of 17 galaxies have enhanced star formation indicated by [OII] equivalent widths greater than 20Å, while the comparison sample of 9 galaxies have equivalent widths less than 10Å. By fitting disks or bulges to BVI images we derive scalelengths for the blue and red stellar populations and locate the star-formation in each galaxy. These moderate-redshift galaxies generally have straightforward low-redshift analogues, in that their colours, sizes and luminosities are consistent with those of various types of z$\approx$0 galaxies. The star-forming objects have structures consistent with the full range of present-day disk galaxies, and absolute magnitudes M$^\ast$$-$1 to M$^\ast$+5. Some have star-formation concentrated in their nuclei but in most it occurs across the entire disk. We find companions at projected distances closer than 10 kpc for 30% of the star-forming galaxies, whereas none of the comparison sample have such close companions. This provides the first direct evidence linking interactions or mergers to the increased fraction of star-forming field galaxies at moderate redshifts.