Abstract: | We study the nature of faint blue compact galaxies (BCGs) at redshifts z ∼ 0.2 - 1.3 using Keck and HST. Despite being very
luminous (LB ∼ L*), most distant BCGs have masses M ∼ 1010M⊙, i.e., they are dwarf stellar systems. The majority of these galaxies have colors, sizes, surface brightnesses, luminosities,
velocity widths, excitations, star formation rates (SFR), and mass-to-light ratios characteristic of the most luminous nearby
HII galaxies. The more massive BCGs form a more heterogeneous class of evolved starburst, similar to local disk starburst
galaxies. Without additional star formation, HII-like BCGs will most likely fade to resemble today's spheroidal galaxies such
as NGC 205.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |