Current Star Formation in Post-Starburst Galaxies?

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Abstract
Radio continuum observations are a probe of star formation in galaxies, and are unaffected by dust extinction. Observations of the distant rich cluster Cl 0939+4713 have detected radio galaxies classified as post-starburst (``k+a'') on the basis of their optical spectra, and presumably this situation arises from heavil y dust-obscured star formation (Smail et al. 1999). We present the results of a radio continuum survey of post-starburst galaxies identified from the Las Campan as Redshift Survey by Zabludoff et al. (1996). This sample was selected using ve ry stringent criteria, and therefore provides an estimate on the incidence of po tential star formation in galaxies whose optical spectra exhibit the strongest p ost-starburst features. We detected two of fifteen such galaxies at radio lumino sities consistent with moderate levels of star formation. This result underscore s the potential importance of dust extinction when investigating star formation in galaxies.

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