Integral Field Spectroscopy in LCBGs

Our group in collaboration with Florida University is involved in the study of a representative sample of Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies (LCBGs) within 100 Mpc selected from the DR4 of the SDSS and the UCM surveys. This project is based on the integral field spectroscopy provided by the instrument PPAK at 3.5m CAHA and is part of a major multiwavelength study which goes from FUV (GALEX) to cm (VLA). Optical PPAK observations provide us with spatially resolved maps of kinematics, extinction, SFR, and metallicity which allow us to study the star formation history, galactic mass, and the role of SN feedback in these starbursts. Our study will define LCBGs as a class and provide a key reference for comparison with similar rest-frame optical spectroscopic studies at high z obtained in the near future using the new generation of NIRMOS in 10-m class telescopes.