Nascent Starbursts in Synchrotron-Deficient Galaxies

We have identified a rare category of galaxies deviating from the universal infrared-radio correlation of star-forming galaxies in being significantly deficient in synchrotron radiation at 20 cm. The selected objects also have high dust temperatures, indicating intense radiation fields. From a detailed study of the prototype of this class, NGC 1377, the most likely scenario accounting for their properties is a starburst just breaking out in a host previously quiescent for at least 100 Myr. We have selected a statistical sample of candidate nascent starbursts from the cross-correlation of the IRAS Faint Source Catalog with the NVSS and FIRST VLA radio surveys, and discuss the first results obtained from a recent multi-wavelength VLA campaign.