Abstract
We present a mid-infrared study of a sample of 19 Starburst galaxies in the local (z<0.2) universe. We derive physical parameters such as Metallicity, Interstellar Medium Pressure, Compactness Parameter C (related to the dust heating flux), PDR Fraction f_{PDR} and Extinction A_{V} by fitting the Spitzer-IRS spectra of these systems using state-of-the-art radiative transfer models and Bayesian techniques. Our results are fundamental in the understanding of massive star formation in the local counterparts of intermediate and high redshift Ultra Luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs). We reconstruct the star forming histories of these systems by obtaining posterior probability distribution functions (PDFs) for the star formation rates in different epochs an estimate the contribution to the bolometric luminosity from very recent (< 1 Myr) star formation events, and the contribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, which is significant in some cases. By comparing the derived PDFs with particular spectral signatures, such as the nebular emission of atomic species like [NeII] and [NeIII], and the H_{2} temperatures we also relate the global pattern of star formation in Starburst galaxies with the internal physics of the ISM.
