The Arecibo OH Megamaser Survey and the Galaxy Merger Rate
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We present the current results of a survey for OH megamasers (OHMs) underway at the Arecibo Observatory. The survey is 2/3 complete and has produced a high OHM detection rate (1 in 6) from a redshift-selected sample of IRAS galaxies. The survey will relate the OHM luminosity function to the galaxy merger rate, allowing subsequent blind OHM surveys to measure the galaxy merger rate as a function of cosmic time. The survey has also made the first detection of strong variability in OHMs. Variability will provide a powerful tool for understanding the small-scale physical settings and mechanisms of OHMs.
2 pages, 1 figure; requires newpasp.sty. To appear in the proceedings of the conference "Gas and Galaxy Evolution" (ASP Conference Series), eds. J. Hibbard, M. Rupen, and J. van Gorkom
2 pages, 1 figure; requires newpasp.sty. To appear in the proceedings of the conference "Gas and Galaxy Evolution" (ASP Conference Series), eds. J. Hibbard, M. Rupen, and J. van Gorkom