Luminous infrared galaxy

[3] A LIRG's excess infrared luminosity may also come from the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) residing at the center.

[4][5] These galaxies emit more energy in the infrared portion of the spectrum, not visible to the naked eye.

The energy given off by LIRGs is comparable to that of a quasar (a type of AGN), which formerly was known as the most energetic object in the universe.

[6] This can be evidenced by the fact that stars are much older in elliptical galaxies than those found in the earlier stages of the evolution.

Hyper luminous Infrared Galaxies (HyLIRG), also referred to as HiLIRGs and HLIRGs, are considered to be some of the most luminous persistent objects in the Universe, exhibiting extremely high star formation rates, and most of which are known to harbour Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).

[10][11] IRAS F10214+4724, a HyLIRG being gravitationally lensed by a foreground elliptical galaxy,[12] was considered to be one of the most luminous objects in the Universe having an intrinsic luminosity of ~ 2 × 1013 L⊙.

[13] It is believed that the bolometric luminosity of this HLIRG is likely amplified by a factor of ~30 as a result of the gravitational lensing.

The pressure of the emitted light forces the gas outward, creating a limit to how fast the black hole can continuously absorb matter.

If a black hole broke this limit, it could theoretically increase in size at a fast rate.

It is now clear that the reason the number of detections has risen is that the majority of LIRGs in the universe emitted the bulk of their energy in the far infrared.

Using information from NASA's Spitzer, Hubble, Chandra and Galex observations in a study over 200 of the most luminous infrared selected galaxies in the local universe.

The LIRGs and ULIRGs targeted in GOALS span the full range of nuclear spectral types (type-1 and type 2 Active Galactic Nuclei, LINERS's, and starbursts) and interaction stages (major mergers, minor mergers, and isolated galaxies).