Starburst galaxies

Abstract

Star formation and the Starburst phenomenon are presented with respect to a number of nearby star-forming galaxies where our understanding of the process can be calibrated. Methods of estimating star-formation rates are discussed together with the role played in the investigation of the process by multi-wavelength studies of a few selected starburst galaxies (especially the wellstudied galaxy M82). Our understanding of nearby systems allows us to study the star-formation history of the Universe by observing high-redshift starburst galaxies. These begin to dominate the radio source populations at centimetre wavelengths at flux densities below a few tens of μJy. New, very sensitive, high-resolution telescopes in the sub-mm and radio bands will revolutionize our understanding of these distant star-forming systems, some of which may contain embedded AGN.