``The
Evolution of Star-Forming Galaxies and The Star Formation Rate Density
of the Universe''
Jesús Gallego Maestro
(UCM)
Departamento de Astrofísica
Universidad Complutense. 28040 Madrid, Spain.
jgm@astrax.fis.ucm.es
The measurement of the Star Formation Rate (SFR)
density of the Universe as a function of look-back time is a fundamental
parameter in order to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies.
The current picture is that the global SFR density has dropped by about
an order of magnitude from a peak at redshift of 
1.5
to the current value at z=0. Using H
luminosity as SFR tracer, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Survey
provided the global SFR density in the Local Universe. Because H
is observable in the optical only out to redshifts z<0.4, it becomes
necessary to determine useful calibrations between other physical parameters
as [OII]
3727
or broad-band luminosities and the SFR specially suitable for the different
types of star-forming galaxies found by deep spectroscopic surveys in redshifts
up to z3.
The fundamental parameter that determines galactic
evolution is mass, not luminosity. Determining the mass function for the
local star-forming galaxies results in a key contour condition to solve
the problem of analyzing similar objects at different redshifts. Combining
these local results with published Keck data for z1
star-forming galaxies we conclude that star-forming galaxies at z=0 have
similar SFR per unit mass and burst strengths to those at z1,
but are intrinsically less massive. These results agree qualitatively with
a ``downsizing'' scenario, in which more massive galaxies form at higher
redshift. The results suggest that these high-z star-forming objects may
be related to local luminous starbursts.
``Explosiones
cosmicas de rayos gamma: los fenomenos mas energeticos del Universo''
Alberto J. Castro-Tirado
(LAEFF-INTA/IAA-CSIC)
(1) Laboratorio de Astrofisica
Espacial y Fisica Fundamental
P.O. Box 50727, E-28080 Madrid
(2) Instituto de Astrofisica
de Andalucia
P.O. Box 03004, E-18080 Granada
El lanzamiento del satélite de rayos X BeppoSAX en 1996 ha supuesto una revolución en el campo de la Astrofísica de Altas Energías, y en concreto,dentro del de las explosiones cósmicas de rayos gamma, desde su descubrimiento en 1967.
El hecho de haber podido
detectar la emisión de rayos-X que decae tras la explosión
gamma, ha permitido identificar las primeras contrapartidas en otras longitudes
de onda (óptico, IR y radio) lo que ha revelado la verdadera distancia
a la que se produce el fenómeno, solventando así una incógnita
que perduraba 30 años.
``Astrofísica
en el infrarrojo : El legado de ISO y el futuro de FIRST''
José Cernicharo (CSIC)
Los principales resultados
concernientes al medio interestelar y a las estrellas evolucionadas serán
analizados y las perspectivas que estos datos nos brindan con respecto
a las futuras misiones de la ESA (proyecto FIRST) constituirán una
parte importante de esta conferencia.
``Highlights
of Keck in Exploring Distant Galaxies''
David C. Koo (UCO/Lick Obs)
Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics
UCO/Lick Observatory
University of California, Santa
Cruz