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This paper presents a detailed spectral pixel (spaxel) analysis of the tenLuminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) previously observed with the Wide FieldSpectrograph (WiFeS), an integral field spectrograph mounted on the ANU 2.3mtelescope, and for which an abundance gradient analysis has already beenpresented by Rich et al. (2012). Here we use the strong emission line analysistechniques developed by Dopita et al. (2013) to measure the ionisationparameter and the oxygen abundance in each spaxel. In addition, we use theobserved H$\alpha$ flux to determine the surface rate of star formation($M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ kpc$^{-2}$) and use the [\ion{S}{2}]$\lambda\lambda6717/6731$ ratio to estimate the local pressure in the ionisedplasma. We discuss the correlations discovered between these physicalquantities, and use them to infer aspects of the physics of star formation inthese extreme star forming environments. In particular, we find a correlationbetween the star formation rate and the inferred ionisation parameter. Weexamine the possible reasons for this correlation, and determine that the mostlikely explanation is that the more active star forming regions have adifferent distribution of molecular gas which favour higher ionisationparameters in the ionised plasma.

Spaxel Analysis: Probing the Physics of Star Formation in Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies