J. Melnick Abstract

The Genesis of Galaxy Bulges

J. Melnick (ESO) and R. de Propris

We will present a study of K+A `post-starburst' galaxies where, contrary to common belief, star-formation has not been suddenly quenched by some unknown mechanism, but on the contrary, are currently undergoing a massive burst of star formation, which is hidden by dust.  We will argue that this burst marks the genesis of the spheroidal component in these originally disk-dominated L* galaxies.