Starburst Galaxies in a Cosmological Context
Roderik Overzier
Observatório Nacional
Starburst galaxies are important for our understanding of galaxy evolution, especially at high redshifts when most galaxies formed their stars at an explosive rate. Although observations now allow us to study basic properties of galaxies up to z~10, the interpretation of these data relies on models that are still difficult to constrain. The study of starbursts in the nearby universe is particularly useful, as they allow us to probe in great detail a range of extreme processes analogous to those that were common only at high redshift. In this talk, I will highlight recent results related to starbursts and their important role throughout the history of the universe. Topics will include the cosmic star formation rate density, the importance of gas accretion and mergers, the relation between supernova-driven outflows and the epoch of reionization, and the co-evolution of bulges and black Zholes.