scholarly journals H i imaging of dwarf star-forming galaxies: masses, morphologies, and gas deficiencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (4) ◽  
pp. 4745-4789
Author(s):  
S Jaiswal ◽  
A Omar

ABSTRACT The Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope observations of the H i 21 cm-line emission from 13 nearby dwarf star-forming galaxies are presented. These galaxies are selected from the catalogues of Wolf−Rayet galaxies having very young (≤10 Myr) star formation. The ranges of star formation rates and stellar masses of the sample galaxies are 0.03–1.7 M⊙ yr−1 and 0.04–22.3 × 108 M⊙, respectively. The H i line emission is detected from 12 galaxies with peak column density >1 × 1021 cm−2. The 3σ H i column density sensitivities per channel width of 7 km s−1 for low (60 arcsec × 60 arcsec) resolution images are in the range 0.8–1.9 × 1019 cm−2. The H i channel images, moment images, global profiles, and mass surface density profiles are presented here. The average value of the peak H i mass surface density is estimated to be ∼2.5 M⊙ pc−2, which is significantly less compared to that in massive spiral galaxies. The scaling relations of $(M_{stars} + M_{\rm H\, I} + M_{\rm He})$versus Mdyn, gas fraction versus MB, $M_{\rm H\, I}$versus Mstars, H i-to-stellar mass ratio versus Mstars, and $M_{\rm H\, I}$versus $D_{\rm H\, I}$for the sample galaxies are estimated. These scaling relations can be used to constraint the key parameters in the galaxy evolution models. These galaxies are residing in group environment with galaxy density up to eight galaxy Mpc−3. An H i mass deficiency (with DEFH i > 0.3) is noticed in majority of galaxies for their optical diameters as compared to galaxies in field environments. Clear signatures of tidal interactions in these galaxies could be inferred using the H i images. Isolated H i clouds without known optical counterparts are seen in the vicinity of several galaxies. H i emission envelope is found to be having an offset from the optical envelope in several galaxies. Consistent with the previous studies on galaxy evolution in group environments, tidal interactions seem to play an important role in triggering recent star formation.

2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A97
Author(s):  
D. Colombo ◽  
S. F. Sanchez ◽  
A. D. Bolatto ◽  
V. Kalinova ◽  
A. Weiß ◽  
...  

Understanding how galaxies cease to form stars represents an outstanding challenge for galaxy evolution theories. This process of “star formation quenching” has been related to various causes, including active galactic nuclei activity, the influence of large-scale dynamics, and the environment in which galaxies live. In this paper, we present the first results from a follow-up of CALIFA survey galaxies with observations of molecular gas obtained with the APEX telescope. Together with the EDGE-CARMA observations, we collected 12CO observations that cover approximately one effective radius in 472 CALIFA galaxies. We observe that the deficit of galaxy star formation with respect to the star formation main sequence (SFMS) increases with the absence of molecular gas and with a reduced efficiency of conversion of molecular gas into stars, which is in line with the results of other integrated studies. However, by dividing the sample into galaxies dominated by star formation and galaxies quenched in their centres (as indicated by the average value of the Hα equivalent width), we find that this deficit increases sharply once a certain level of gas consumption is reached, indicating that different mechanisms drive separation from the SFMS in star-forming and quenched galaxies. Our results indicate that differences in the amount of molecular gas at a fixed stellar mass are the primary drivers for the dispersion in the SFMS, and the most likely explanation for the start of star formation quenching. However, once a galaxy is quenched, changes in star formation efficiency drive how much a retired galaxy differs in its star formation rate from star-forming ones of similar masses. In other words, once a paucity of molecular gas has significantly reduced star formation, changes in the star formation efficiency are what drives a galaxy deeper into the red cloud, hence retiring it.


2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (1) ◽  
pp. 1492-1512
Author(s):  
S Gillman ◽  
A L Tiley ◽  
A M Swinbank ◽  
C M Harrison ◽  
Ian Smail ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present an analysis of the gas dynamics of star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1.5 using data from the KMOS Galaxy Evolution Survey. We quantify the morphology of the galaxies using HSTcandels imaging parametrically and non-parametrically. We combine the H α dynamics from KMOS with the high-resolution imaging to derive the relation between stellar mass (M*) and stellar specific angular momentum (j*). We show that high-redshift star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1.5 follow a power-law trend in specific stellar angular momentum with stellar mass similar to that of local late-type galaxies of the form j*  ∝  M$_*^{0.53\, \pm \, 0.10}$. The highest specific angular momentum galaxies are mostly disc-like, although generally both peculiar morphologies and disc-like systems are found across the sequence of specific angular momentum at a fixed stellar mass. We explore the scatter within the j* – M* plane and its correlation with both the integrated dynamical properties of a galaxy (e.g. velocity dispersion, Toomre Qg, H α star formation rate surface density ΣSFR) and its parametrized rest-frame UV / optical morphology (e.g. Sérsic index, bulge to total ratio, clumpiness, asymmetry, and concentration). We establish that the position in the j* – M* plane is strongly correlated with the star-formation surface density and the clumpiness of the stellar light distribution. Galaxies with peculiar rest-frame UV / optical morphologies have comparable specific angular momentum to disc- dominated galaxies of the same stellar mass, but are clumpier and have higher star formation rate surface densities. We propose that the peculiar morphologies in high-redshift systems are driven by higher star formation rate surface densities and higher gas fractions leading to a more clumpy interstellar medium.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S315) ◽  
pp. 183-190
Author(s):  
James Di Francesco

AbstractWe explore the relationship between the total gas surface density and star formation rate surface density, a.k.a., the “Kennicutt-Schmidt relation,” in a Galactic context. Specifically, we probe the origins of thresholds in the behaviour of the K-S relation at 10 M⊙ pc−2 and 100-200 M⊙ pc−2 using images from the Herschel Hi-GAL and Gould Belt surveys. In both cases, pervasive filamentary structures are seen, possibly due to turbulent motions. The Hi-GAL image supports the view that at ~10 M⊙ pc−2 gas becomes molecular, leading to the formation of clouds that harbour star formation. The GBS images suggest the 100-200 M⊙ pc−2 threshold originates from the nature of filaments being stable until a critical column density of ~160 M⊙ pc−2 is reached. Therefore, the transition between non-star-forming and star-forming gas in clouds (and galaxies) may be set universally by the dynamical properties of filaments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. A113
Author(s):  
E. Spitoni ◽  
F. Calura ◽  
M. Mignoli ◽  
R. Gilli ◽  
V. Silva Aguirre ◽  
...  

Context. In their evolution, star-forming galaxies are known to follow scaling relations between some fundamental physical quantities, such as the relation between mass metallicity and star formation main sequence. Aims. We study the evolution of galaxies that at a given redshift, lie simultaneously on the mass-metallicity and main-sequence relations (MZR, MSR). Methods. To this aim, we used the analytical leaky-box chemical evolution model, in which galaxy evolution is described by the infall timescale τ and the wind efficiency λ. We provide a detailed analysis of the temporal evolution of their metallicity, stellar mass, mass-weighted age, and gas fraction. Results. The evolution of the galaxies lying on the MZR and MSR at z ∼ 0.1 suggests that the average infall timescale in two different bins of stellar masses (M⋆ <  1010 M⊙ and M⋆ >  1010 M⊙) decreases with decreasing redshift through the addition of new galaxies with shorter timescales. This means that at each redshift, only the youngest galaxies can be assembled on the shortest timescales and still belong to the star-forming MSR. In the lowest mass bin, a decrease in median τ is accompanied by an increase in the median λ value. This implies that systems that formed at more recent times will need to eject a larger amount of mass to retain their low metallicity values. Another important result is that galactic downsizing, as traced by the age-mass relation, is naturally recovered by imposing the local MZR and MSR for star-forming galaxies. This result is retained even when a constant star formation efficiency for different galactic masses is assumed (without imposing the observed scaling relation between stellar mass and gas-depletion time-scales). Finally, we study the evolution of the hosts of C IV-selected active galactic nuclei, which at z ∼ 2 follow a flat MZR. When we impose that these systems lie on the MSR, we find an “inverted” MZR at lower redshifts, meaning that some additional processes must be at play in their evolution. Conclusions. In our model, galactic downsizing is a direct consequence of the MZR and MSR for star-forming galaxies. This poses a challenge for models of galaxy evolution within a cosmological framework.


Author(s):  
A Morales-Vargas ◽  
J P Torres-Papaqui ◽  
F F Rosales-Ortega ◽  
M Chow-Martínez ◽  
J J Trejo-Alonso ◽  
...  

Abstract Galaxy evolution is generally affected by tidal interactions. Firstly, in this series, we reported several effects which suggest that tidal interactions contribute to regulating star formation (SF). To confirm that so, we now compare stellar mass assembly histories and SF look-back time annular profiles between CALIFA survey tidally and non-tidally perturbed galaxies. We pair their respective star-forming regions at the closest stellar mass surface densities to reduce the influence of stellar mass. The assembly histories and annular profiles show statistically significant differences so that higher star formation rates characterize regions in tidally perturbed galaxies. These regions underwent a more intense (re)activation of SF in the last 1 Gyr. Varying shapes of the annular profiles also reflect fluctuations between suppression and (re)activation of SF. Since gas-phase abundances use to be lower in more actively than in less actively star-forming galaxies, we further explore the plausible presence of metal-poor gas inflows able to dilute such abundances. The resolved relations of oxygen (O) abundance, with stellar mass density and with total gas fraction, show slightly lower O abundances for regions in tidally perturbed galaxies. The single distributions of O abundances statistically validate that so. Moreover, from a metallicity model based on stellar feedback, the mass rate differentials (inflows−outflows) show statistically valid higher values for regions in tidally perturbed galaxies. These differentials, and the metal fractions from the population synthesis, suggest dominant gas inflows in these galaxies. This dominance, and the differences in SF through time, confirm the previously reported effects of tidal interactions on SF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 639 ◽  
pp. L13
Author(s):  
N. P. H. Nesvadba ◽  
G. V. Bicknell ◽  
D. Mukherjee ◽  
A. Y. Wagner

We present new, spatially resolved [CI]1–0, [CI]2–1, CO(7–6), and dust continuum observations of 4C 41.17 at z = 3.8. This is one of the best-studied radio galaxies in this epoch and is arguably the best candidate of jet-triggered star formation at high redshift currently known in the literature. 4C 41.17 shows a narrow ridge of dust continuum extending over 15 kpc near the radio jet axis. Line emission is found within the galaxy in the region with signatures of positive feedback. Using the [CI]1–0 line as a molecular gas tracer, and multifrequency observations of the far-infrared dust heated by star formation, we find a total gas mass of 7.6 × 1010 M⊙, which is somewhat greater than that previously found from CO(4–3). The gas mass surface density of 103 M⊙ yr−1 pc−2 and the star formation rate surface density of 10 M⊙ yr−1 kpc−2 were derived over the 12 kpc × 8 kpc area, where signatures of positive feedback have previously been found. These densities are comparable to those in other populations of massive, dusty star-forming galaxies in this redshift range, suggesting that the jet does not currently enhance the efficiency with which stars form from the gas. This is consistent with expectations from simulations, whereby radio jets may facilitate the onset of star formation in galaxies without boosting its efficiency over longer timescales, in particular after the jet has broken out of the interstellar medium, as is the case in 4C 41.17.


2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A180
Author(s):  
L. K. Hunt ◽  
C. Tortora ◽  
M. Ginolfi ◽  
R. Schneider

Assessments of the cold-gas reservoir in galaxies are a cornerstone for understanding star-formation processes and the role of feedback and baryonic cycling in galaxy evolution. Here we exploit a sample of 392 galaxies (dubbed MAGMA, Metallicity and Gas for Mass Assembly), presented in a recent paper, to quantify molecular and atomic gas properties across a broad range in stellar mass, Mstar, from ∼107 − 1011 M⊙. First, we find the metallicity (Z) dependence of the conversion factor for CO luminosity to molecular H2 mass αCO to be shallower than previous estimates, with αCO  ∝  (Z/Z⊙)−1.55. Second, molecular gas mass MH2 is found to be strongly correlated with Mstar and star-formation rate (SFR), enabling predictions of MH2 good to within ∼0.2 dex; analogous relations for atomic gas mass MHI and total gas mass Mgas are less accurate, ∼0.4 dex and ∼0.3 dex, respectively. Indeed, the behavior of atomic gas mass MHI in MAGMA scaling relations suggests that it may be a third, independent variable that encapsulates information about the circumgalactic environment and gas accretion. If Mgas is considered to depend on MHI, together with Mstar and SFR, we obtain a relation that predicts Mgas to within ∼0.05 dex. Finally, the analysis of depletion times and the scaling of MHI/Mstar and MH2/Mstar over three different mass bins suggests that the partition of gas and the regulation of star formation through gas content depends on the mass regime. Dwarf galaxies (Mstar  ≲  3 × 109 M⊙) tend to be overwhelmed by (H I) accretion, and despite short τH2 (and thus presumably high star-formation efficiency), star formation is unable to keep up with the gas supply. For galaxies in the intermediate Mstar “gas-equilibrium” bin (3 × 109 M⊙ ≲ Mstar ≲3 × 1010 M⊙), star formation proceeds apace with gas availability, and H I and H2 are both proportional to SFR. In the most massive “gas-poor, bimodality” regime (Mstar ≳ 3 × 1010 M⊙), H I does not apparently participate in star formation, although it generally dominates in mass over H2. Our results confirm that atomic gas plays a key role in baryonic cycling, and is a fundamental ingredient for current and future star formation, especially in dwarf galaxies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3123-3141
Author(s):  
Swagat R Das ◽  
Jessy Jose ◽  
Manash R Samal ◽  
Shaobo Zhang ◽  
Neelam Panwar

ABSTRACT The processes that regulate star formation within molecular clouds are still not well understood. Various star formation scaling relations have been proposed as an explanation, one of which is to formulate a relation between the star formation rate surface density $\rm \Sigma _{SFR}$ and the underlying gas surface density $\rm \Sigma _{gas}$. In this work, we test various star formation scaling relations, such as the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation, the volumetric star formation relation, the orbital time model, the crossing time model and the multi free-fall time-scale model, towards the North American Nebula and Pelican Nebula and in the cold clumps associated with them. Measuring stellar mass from young stellar objects and gaseous mass from CO measurements, we estimate the mean $\rm \Sigma _{SFR}$, the star formation rate per free-fall time and the star formation efficiency for clumps to be 1.5 $\rm M_{\odot}\, yr^{-1}\, kpc^{-2}$, 0.009 and 2.0 per cent, respectively, while for the whole region covered by both nebulae (which we call the ‘NAN’ complex) the values are 0.6 $\rm M_{\odot}\, yr^{-1}\, kpc^{-2}$, 0.0003 and 1.6 per cent, respectively. For the clumps, we notice that the observed properties are in line with the correlation obtained between $\rm \Sigma _{SFR}$ and $\rm \Sigma _{gas}$, and between $\rm \Sigma _{SFR}$ and $\rm \Sigma _{gas}$ per free-fall time and orbital time for Galactic clouds. At the same time, we do not observe any correlation with $\rm \Sigma _{gas}$ per crossing time and multi free-fall time. Even though we see correlations in the former cases, however, all models agree with each other within a factor of 0.5 dex. It is not possible to discriminate between these models because of the current uncertainties in the input observables. We also test the variation of $\rm \Sigma _{SFR}$ with the dense gas but, because of low statistics, a weak correlation is seen in our analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A144
Author(s):  
D. Donevski ◽  
A. Lapi ◽  
K. Małek ◽  
D. Liu ◽  
C. Gómez-Guijarro ◽  
...  

The dust-to-stellar mass ratio (Mdust/M⋆) is a crucial, albeit poorly constrained, parameter for improving our understanding of the complex physical processes involved in the production of dust, metals, and stars in galaxy evolution. In this work, we explore trends of Mdust/M⋆ with different physical parameters and using observations of 300 massive dusty star-forming galaxies detected with ALMA up to z ≈ 5. Additionally, we interpret our findings with different models of dusty galaxy formation. We find that Mdust/M⋆ evolves with redshift, stellar mass, specific star formation rates, and integrated dust size, but that evolution is different for main-sequence galaxies than it is for starburst galaxies. In both galaxy populations, Mdust/M⋆ increases until z ∼ 2, followed by a roughly flat trend towards higher redshifts, suggesting efficient dust growth in the distant universe. We confirm that the inverse relation between Mdust/M⋆ and M⋆ holds up to z ≈ 5 and can be interpreted as an evolutionary transition from early to late starburst phases. We demonstrate that the Mdust/M⋆ in starbursts reflects the increase in molecular gas fraction with redshift and attains the highest values for sources with the most compact dusty star formation. State-of-the-art cosmological simulations that include self-consistent dust growth have the capacity to broadly reproduce the evolution of Mdust/M⋆ in main-sequence galaxies, but underestimating it in starbursts. The latter is found to be linked to lower gas-phase metallicities and longer dust-growth timescales relative to observations. The results of phenomenological models based on the main-sequence and starburst dichotomy as well as analytical models that include recipes for rapid metal enrichment are consistent with our observations. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that high Mdust/M⋆ is due to rapid dust grain growth in the metal-enriched interstellar medium. This work highlights the multi-fold benefits of using Mdust/M⋆ as a diagnostic tool for: (1) disentangling main-sequence and starburst galaxies up to z ∼ 5; (2) probing the evolutionary phase of massive objects; and (3) refining the treatment of the dust life cycle in simulations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S255) ◽  
pp. 397-401
Author(s):  
David J. Rosario ◽  
Carlos Hoyos ◽  
David Koo ◽  
Andrew Phillips

AbstractWe present a study of remarkably luminous and unique dwarf galaxies at redshifts of 0.5 < z < 0.7, selected from the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift survey by the presence of the temperature sensitive [OIII]λ4363 emission line. Measurements of this important auroral line, as well as other strong oxygen lines, allow us to estimate the integrated oxygen abundances of these galaxies accurately without being subject to the degeneracy inherent in the standard R23 system used by most studies. [O/H] estimates range between 1/5–1/10 of the solar value. Not surprisingly, these systems are exceedingly rare and hence represent a population that is not typically present in local surveys such as SDSS, or smaller volume deep surveys such as GOODS.Our low-metallicity galaxies exhibit many unprecedented characteristics. With B-band luminosities close to L*, thse dwarfs lie significantly away from the luminosity-metallicity relationships of both local and intermediate redshift star-forming galaxies. Using stellar masses determined from optical and NIR photometry, we show that they also deviate strongly from corresponding mass-metallicity relationships. Their specific star formation rates are high, implying a significant burst of recent star formation. A campaign of high resolution spectroscopic follow-up shows that our galaxies have dynamical properties similar to local HII and compact emission line galaxies, but mass-to-light ratios that are much higher than average star-forming dwarfs.The low metallicities, high specific star formation rates, and small halo masses of our galaxies mark them as lower redshift analogs of Lyman-Break galaxies, which, at z ~ 2 are evolving onto the metallicity sequence that we observe in the galaxy population of today. In this sense, these systems offer fundamental insights into the physical processes and regulatory mechanisms that drive galaxy evolution in that epoch of major star formation and stellar mass assembly.


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