Using a sample of 7 barred spirals from the BIMA Survey of Nearby Galaxies ( SONG ) , we compare the molecular gas distribution in the bar , to recent massive star formation activity .
In all 7 galaxies , H \alpha is offset azimuthally from the CO on the downstream side .
The maximum offset , at the bar ends , ranges from 170-570 pc , with an average of 320 \pm 120 pc .
We discuss whether the observed offsets are consistent with the description of gas flows in bars provided by the two main classes of models : n-body models and hydrodynamic models .
This work The entire poster at http : //bima.astro.umd.edu/projects/bimasong/pubs/romeposter.ps is supported by NSF grants AST 9981289 , AST 9981308 .