scholarly journals Hydrodynamic simulations of an isolated star-forming gas cloud in the Virgo cluster

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (4) ◽  
pp. 5873-5890
Author(s):  
Francesco Calura ◽  
Michele Bellazzini ◽  
Annibale D’Ercole
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Hydrodynamic Simulations ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Asymmetric Shape ◽  
Gas Cloud ◽  
Cold Gas

ABSTRACT We present a suite of three-dimensional, high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations that follow the evolution of a massive (107 M⊙) pressure-confined, star-forming neutral gas cloud moving through a hot intracluster medium (ICM). The main goal of the analysis is to get theoretical insight into the lifetimes and evolution of stellar systems like the recently discovered star-forming cloud SECCO 1 in the Virgo cluster of galaxies, but it may be of general interest for the study of the star-forming gas clumps that are observed in the tails of ram pressure stripped galaxies. Building up on a previous, simple simulation, we explored the effect of different relative velocity of the cloud and larger temperature of the ICM, as well as the effect of the cloud self-gravity. Moreover, we performed a simulation including star formation and stellar feedback, allowing for a first time a direct comparison with the observed properties of the stars in the system. The survivability of the cold gas in the simulated clouds is granted on time-scales of the order of 1 Gyr, with final cold gas fractions generally >0.75. In all cases, the simulated systems end up, after 1 Gyr of evolution, as symmetric clouds in pressure equilibrium with the external hot gas. We also confirm that gravity played a negligible role at the largest scales on the evolution of the clouds. In our simulation with star formation, star formation begins immediately, it peaks at the earliest times, and decreases monotonically with time. Inhomogeneous supernova explosions are the cause of an asymmetric shape of the gas cloud, facilitating the development of instabilities and the decrease of the cold gas fraction.

scholarly journals Evolution of the cold gas fraction and the star formation history: Prospects with current and future radio facilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Curran
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Spin Temperature ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Contemporary Sample ◽  
Formation History ◽  
Radio Band ◽  
Cold Gas

AbstractIt has recently been shown that the abundance of cold neutral gas may follow a similar evolution as the star formation history. This is physically motivated, since stars form out of this component of the neutral gas and if the case, would resolve the long-standing issue that there is a clear disparity between the total abundance of neutral gas and star-forming activity over the history of the Universe. Radio-band 21-cm absorption traces the cold gas and comparison with the Lyman-α absorption, which traces all of the gas, provides a measure of the cold gas fraction, or the spin temperature, Tspin. The recent study has shown that the spin temperature (degenerate with the ratio of the absorber/emitter extent) appears to be anti-correlated with the star formation density, ψ*, with 1/Tspin undergoing a similar steep evolution as ψ* over redshifts of 0 ≲ z ≲ 3, whereas the total neutral hydrogen exhibits little evolution. Above z ∼ 3, where ψ* shows a steep decline with redshift, there are insufficient 21-cm data to determine whether 1/Tspin continues to follow ψ*. Knowing this is paramount in ascertaining whether the cold neutral gas does trace the star formation over the Universe’s history. We explore the feasibility of resolving this with 21-cm observations of the largest contemporary sample of reliable damped Lyman-α absorption systems and conclude that, while today’s largest radio interferometers can reach the required sensitivity at z ≲ 3.5, the Square Kilometre Array is required to probe higher redshifts.

scholarly journals xGASS: cold gas content and quenching in galaxies below the star-forming main sequence

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (2) ◽  
pp. 1982-1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Janowiecki ◽  
Barbara Catinella ◽  
Luca Cortese ◽  
Amelie Saintonge ◽  
Jing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Correct Model ◽  
Gas Measurements ◽  
Cold Gas

ABSTRACT We use H i and H2 global gas measurements of galaxies from xGASS and xCOLD GASS to investigate quenching paths of galaxies below the Star forming main sequence (SFMS). We show that the population of galaxies below the SFMS is not a 1:1 match with the population of galaxies below the H i and H2 gas fraction scaling relations. Some galaxies in the transition zone (TZ) 1σ below the SFMS can be as H i-rich as those in the SFMS, and have on average longer gas depletion time-scales. We find evidence for environmental quenching of satellites, but central galaxies in the TZ defy simple quenching pathways. Some of these so-called ‘quenched’ galaxies may still have significant gas reservoirs and be unlikely to deplete them any time soon. As such, a correct model of galaxy quenching cannot be inferred with star formation rate (or other optical observables) alone, but must include observations of the cold gas. We also find that internal structure (particularly, the spatial distribution of old and young stellar populations) plays a significant role in regulating the star formation of gas-rich isolated TZ galaxies, suggesting the importance of bulges in their evolution.

scholarly journals Dusty magnetohydrodynamics in star-forming regions

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 569-578
Author(s):  
S. VAN LOO ◽  
S. A. E. G. FALLE ◽  
T. W. HARTQUIST ◽  
O. HAVNES ◽  
G. E. MORFILL
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Gas Phase Ions ◽  
Fractional Ionization ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Models ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractStar formation occurs in dark molecular regions where the number density of hydrogen nuclei nH exceeds 104 cm−3 and the fractional ionization is 10−7 or less. Dust grains with sizes ranging up to tenths of microns and perhaps down to tens of nanometers contain just less than 1% of the mass. Recombination on grains is important for the removal of gas-phase ions, which are produced by cosmic rays penetrating the dark regions. Collisions of neutrals with charged grains contribute significantly to the coupling of the magnetic field to the neutral gas. Consequently, the dynamics of the grains must be included in the magnetohydrodynamic models of large-scale collapse, the evolution of waves and the structures of shocks important in star formation.

scholarly journals High-resolution three-dimensional simulations of gas removal from ultrafaint dwarf galaxies

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella Romano ◽  
Francesco Calura ◽  
Annibale D’Ercole ◽  
C. Gareth Few
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Potential Well ◽  
Hydrodynamic Simulations ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Gas Removal ◽  
Cold Gas

Context. The faintest Local Group galaxies found lurking in and around the Milky Way halo provide a unique test bed for theories of structure formation and evolution on small scales. Deep Subaru and Hubble Space Telescope photometry demonstrates that the stellar populations of these galaxies are old and that the star formation activity did not last longer than 2 Gyr in these systems. A few mechanisms that may lead to such a rapid quenching have been investigated by means of hydrodynamic simulations, but these have not provided any final assessment so far. Aims. This is the first in a series of papers aimed at analyzing the roles of stellar feedback, ram pressure stripping, host-satellite tidal interactions, and reionization in cleaning the lowest mass Milky Way companions of their cold gas using high-resolution, three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. Methods. We simulated an isolated ultrafaint dwarf galaxy loosely modeled after Boötes I, and examined whether or not stellar feedback alone could drive a substantial fraction of the ambient gas out from the shallow potential well. Results. In contrast to simple analytical estimates, but in agreement with previous hydrodynamical studies, we find that most of the cold gas reservoir is retained. Conversely, a significant amount of the metal-enriched stellar ejecta crosses the boundaries of the computational box with velocities exceeding the local escape velocity and is, thus, likely lost from the system. Conclusions. Although the total energy output from multiple supernova explosions exceeds the binding energy of the gas, no galactic-scale outflow develops in our simulations and as such, most of the ambient medium remains trapped within the weak potential well of the model galaxy. It seems thus unavoidable that to explain the dearth of gas in ultrafaint dwarf galaxies, we will have to resort to environmental effects. This will be the subject of a forthcoming paper.

scholarly journals Simulations of the star-forming molecular gas in an interacting M51-like galaxy

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (2) ◽  
pp. 2973-2995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin G Tress ◽  
Rowan J Smith ◽  
Mattia C Sormani ◽  
Simon C O Glover ◽  
Ralf S Klessen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Cold Star ◽  
Self Gravity

ABSTRACT We present here the first of a series of papers aimed at better understanding the evolution and properties of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in a galactic context. We perform high-resolution, three-dimensional arepo simulations of an interacting galaxy inspired by the well-observed M51 galaxy. Our fiducial simulations include a non-equilibrium, time-dependent, chemical network that follows the evolution of atomic and molecular hydrogen as well as carbon and oxygen self-consistently. Our calculations also treat gas self-gravity and subsequent star formation (described by sink particles), and coupled supernova feedback. In the densest parts of the simulated interstellar medium (ISM), we reach sub-parsec resolution, granting us the ability to resolve individual GMCs and their formation and destruction self-consistently throughout the galaxy. In this initial work, we focus on the general properties of the ISM with a particular focus on the cold star-forming gas. We discuss the role of the interaction with the companion galaxy in generating cold molecular gas and controlling stellar birth. We find that while the interaction drives large-scale gas flows and induces spiral arms in the galaxy, it is of secondary importance in determining gas fractions in the different ISM phases and the overall star formation rate. The behaviour of the gas on small GMC scales instead is mostly controlled by the self-regulating property of the ISM driven by coupled feedback.

scholarly journals Understanding galaxy formation and evolution through an all-sky submillimetre spectroscopic survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Negrello ◽  
Matteo Bonato ◽  
Zhen-Yi Cai ◽  
Helmut Dannerbauer ◽  
Gianfranco De Zotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Galaxy Cluster ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Quantum Leap ◽  
The Universe

Abstract We illustrate the extraordinary discovery potential for extragalactic astrophysics of a far-infrared/submillimetre (far-IR/submm) all-sky spectroscopic survey with a 3-m-class space telescope. Spectroscopy provides a three-dimensional view of the Universe and allows us to take full advantage of the sensitivity of present-day instrumentation, close to fundamental limits, overcoming the spatial confusion that affects broadband far-IR/submm surveys. A space telescope of the 3-m class (which has already been described in recent papers) will detect emission lines powered by star formation in galaxies out to $z\,{\simeq}\,8$ . It will specifically provide measurements of spectroscopic redshifts, star-formation rates (SFRs), dust masses, and metal content for millions of galaxies at the peak epoch of cosmic star formation and of hundreds of them at the epoch of reionisation. Many of these star-forming galaxies will be strongly lensed; the brightness amplification and stretching of their sizes will make it possible to investigate (by means of follow-up observations with high-resolution instruments like ALMA, JWST, and SKA) their internal structure and dynamics on the scales of giant molecular clouds (40–100 pc). This will provide direct information on the physics driving the evolution of star-forming galaxies. Furthermore, the arcmin resolution of the telescope at submm wavelengths is ideal for detecting the cores of galaxy proto-clusters, out to the epoch of reionisation. Due to the integrated emission of member galaxies, such objects (as well as strongly lensed sources) will dominate at the highest apparent far-IR luminosities. Tens of millions of these galaxy-clusters-in-formation will be detected at $z \simeq 2 - 3$ –3, with a tail extending out to $z\,{\simeq}\,7$ , and thousands of detections at $6\,{<}\,z\,{<}\,7$ . Their study will allow us to track the growth of the most massive halos well beyond what is possible with classical cluster surveys (mostly limited to $z\,\lesssim\, 1.5 - 2$ –2), tracing the history of star formation in dense environments and teaching us how star formation and galaxy-cluster formation are related across all epochs. The obscured cosmic SFR density of the Universe will thereby be constrained. Such a survey will overcome the current lack of spectroscopic redshifts of dusty star-forming galaxies and galaxy proto-clusters, representing a quantum leap in far-IR/submm extragalactic astrophysics.

scholarly journals Star Formation Thresholds

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S244) ◽  
pp. 247-255
Author(s):  
Joop Schaye
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Global Stability ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Surface Density ◽  
Gravitational Instability ◽  
Gas Cloud ◽  
Disc Galaxies ◽  
Density Threshold ◽  
Cold Gas

AbstractTo make predictions for the existence of “dark galaxies”, it is necessary to understand what determines whether a gas cloud will form stars. Star formation thresholds are generally explained in terms of the Toomre criterion for gravitational instability. I contrast this theory with the thermo-gravitational instability hypothesis of Schaye (2004), in which star formation is triggered by the formation of a cold gas phase and which predicts a nearly constant surface density threshold. I argue that although the Toomre analysis is useful for the global stability of disc galaxies, it relies on assumptions that break down in the outer regions, where star formation thresholds are observed. The thermo-gravitational instability hypothesis can account for a number of observed phenomena, some of which were thought to be unrelated to star formation thresholds.

scholarly journals The anatomy of a star-forming galaxy II: FUV heating via dust

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 2028-2041
Author(s):  
S M Benincasa ◽  
J W Wadsley ◽  
H M P Couchman ◽  
A R Pettitt ◽  
B W Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Energy Budget ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Young Star ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Feedback Model ◽  
Science Application ◽  
Far Ultraviolet ◽  
Young Star Clusters

ABSTRACT Far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation greatly exceeds UV, supernovae (SNe), and winds in the energy budget of young star clusters but is poorly modelled in galaxy simulations. We present results of the first isolated galaxy disc simulations to include photoelectric heating of gas via dust grains from FUV radiation self-consistently, using a ray-tracing approach that calculates optical depths along the source–receiver sightline. This is the first science application of the TREVR radiative transfer algorithm. We find that FUV radiation alone cannot regulate star formation. However, FUV radiation produces warm neutral gas and is able to produce regulated galaxies with realistic scale heights. FUV is also a long-range feedback and is more important in the outer discs of galaxies. We also use the superbubble feedback model, which depends only on the SN energy per stellar mass, is more physically realistic than common, parameter-driven alternatives and thus better constrains SN feedback impacts. FUV and SNe together can regulate star formation without producing too much hot ionized medium and with less disruption to the interstellar medium compared to SNe alone.

scholarly journals Starbursting [O iii] emitters and quiescent [C ii] emitters in the reionization era

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (4) ◽  
pp. 5541-5556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shohei Arata ◽  
Hidenobu Yajima ◽  
Kentaro Nagamine ◽  
Makito Abe ◽  
Sadegh Khochfar
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Abundance Ratio ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Metal Line ◽  
Hydrodynamic Simulations ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Solar Metallicity ◽  
Supernova Feedback

ABSTRACT Recent observations have successfully detected [O iii] $88.3\, {\rm \mu m}$ and [C ii] $157.6\, {\rm \mu m}$ lines from galaxies in the early Universe with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array. Combining cosmological hydrodynamic simulations and radiative transfer calculations, we present relations between the metal line emission and galaxy evolution at z = 6–15. We find that galaxies during their starburst phases have high [O iii] luminosity of ${\sim}10^{42}~\rm erg~s^{-1}$. Once supernova feedback quenches star formation, [O iii] luminosities rapidly decrease and continue to be zero for ${\sim}100\, {\rm Myr}$. The slope of the relation between $\log {(\rm SFR/\rm M_{\odot }~ yr^{-1})}$ and $\log {(L_{\rm [O\, \small {III}]}/\mathrm{L}_{\odot })}$ at z = 6–9 is 1.03, and 1.43 for $\log {(L_{\rm [C\, \small {II}]}/\mathrm{L}_{\odot })}$. As gas metallicity increases from sub-solar to solar metallicity by metal enrichment from star formation and feedback, the line luminosity ratio $L_{\rm [O\, \small {III}]} / L_{\rm [C\, \small {II}]}$ decreases from ∼10 to ∼1 because the O/C abundance ratio decreases due to carbon-rich winds from AGB stars and the mass ratio of H ii to H i regions decreases due to rapid recombination. Therefore, we suggest that the combination of [O iii] and [C ii] lines is a good probe to investigate the relative distribution of ionized and neutral gas in high-z galaxies. In addition, we show that deep [C ii] observations with a sensitivity of ∼10−2 mJy arcsec−2 can probe the extended neutral gas discs of high-z galaxies.

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