Luminous IR Galaxies in a Merger Sequence: BIMA CO Imaging
  In order to trace observationally the conditions in the interstellar medium (ISM) that lead to starbursts, we have used the newly expanded Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) millimeter-wave array to map the molecular ISM in a sample of LIGs chosen to represent different phases of the interacting/merging process. CO images of 6 galaxy mergers at the early/intermediate stage are shown here and preliminary results are summarized. 
Yu Gao, R.A. Gruendl, C.-Y. Hwang & K.Y. Lo