ABSTRACT

The Great Observatory All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) is combining imaging and spectroscopic data from NASA's Spitzer, Hubble, Chandra and GALEX space-borne observatories in a comprehensive study of over 200 of the most luminous infrared-selected galaxies in the local Universe. The sample consists of approximately 180 Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) and 20 Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), comprising a statistically complete subset of the 60um-selected IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample. The objects span the full range of galaxy environments (giant isolated spirals, wide pairs, close pairs, minor mergers, major mergers, and merger remnants) and nuclear spectral types (Type-1 and Type-2 AGNs, LINERs, and starburst/HII), but their proportions depend strongly on the total infrared luminosity and dust temperature. The GOALS data are allowing us to develop a comprehensive picture of the processes responsible for enhanced infrared emission in the local Universe. Our investigation also has significant cosmological implications, as these objects are the best known local analogs of LIRGs and ULIRGs that are turning up with much greater space densities in high-redshift infrared and sub-millimeter surveys. I will summarize the motivation for GOALS, discuss highlights of recent results based primarily on imaging and photometry with Spitzer and HST, and close with an overview of work in progress.