LOW-FREQUENCY RADIO-EMISSION AND STAR-FORMATION IN THE NUCLEI OF INFRARED GALAXIES

Results of radio observations of luminous and ultraluminous infrared g alaxies are dis cussed. The declining or flattening of the radio spect ra of compact and (in some cases) extended sources found using interpl anetary scintillation observations at 102 MHz is accounted for by abso rption in thermal plasma, in agreement with the observed brightness of optical emission lines, it is argued that a region of violent star fo rmation occupies the area of a. molecular disc similar to 1 kPC in siz e. The discrepancy between the linear sizes of the compact radio sourc es and the star forming regions is discussed.