A NUCLEAR STARBURST RING IN THE SPIRAL GALAXY NGC-7552

We present radio maps of NGC 7552 that reveal a 1 kpc starburst ring n ot visible in single color optical images, largely because of dust. Th e radio emission from the ring is dominated by supernova remnants. The re is little or no radio emission from the nucleus itself. Combined wi th broadband optical, near-infrared and narrow band Halpha images, we discuss the star formation activity in the circumnuclear region. In pa rticular, we suggest that a burst of star formation occurred in the ri ng about 5 X 10(7) yr ago. The current SN rate is about one every 2-3 years. As well as the nuclear starburst ring, we identify two larger s cale rings which are also associated with continuing star formation. T hese rings have similar dimensions to the outer, inner, and nuclear ri ng classification of Buta, and we interpret them in terms of orbital r esonances due to a large scale bar. NGC 7552 may also possess a nuclea r bar and an outflowing superwind, but further observations are requir ed for confirmation. We speculate that nuclear rings may act as a depo sitory for inflowing material and play a role in funneling an outflowi ng superwind.