We propose CAM imaging photometry in LW2 (5-8.5um) and LW3 (12-18um) filters
on a set of 8 luminous IR galaxies (LIRGs) and PHT mapping observations at
60 um on the two largest of them in angular size.
Many of the most luminous IR galaxies (LIRGs) are found in interacting or
merging systems. Although starbursts could be a natural explanation for the
large IR luminosities observed, the triggering mechanisms for starbursts and
the role of the galaxy-galaxy interaction and the large reservoir of molecular
gas are not well understood.  Our ISO sample was selected from a sample of
11 LIRGs at different stages of an merging process from our high-resolution
CO survey with the newly expanded Berkeley-s-Maryland Association (BIMA)
millimeter-wave array.  While our CO study is aimed at tracing the evolution
of the gas distribution at a resolution of 5" to 8" along an merging sequence
of LIRGs, the current ISO study is to unveil the star formation activity at
angular scales of 3" to 6" in mid-IR and to see where the bulk of the
far-infrared emission comes from.  With our emphasis on pre-starburst in
luminous infrared galaxies, our proposed ISO observations extend and
complement the existing ISO programs of LIRGs which usually emphasize systems
whose starburst phase has been well developed.