scholarly journals Disc growth and quenching

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (1) ◽  
pp. L51-L55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-jie Peng ◽  
Alvio Renzini
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Atomic Hydrogen ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Radial Flow ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Scaling Relation ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Large Factor

ABSTRACT Based on well-established scaling relation for star-forming galaxies as a function of redshift, we argue that the implied growth by a large factor of their angular momentum requires that the angular momentum of the inflowing gas fuelling star formation and disc growth must also secularly increase. We then propose that star formation in discs can cease (quench) once the accreted material (mainly atomic hydrogen) comes in with excessive angular momentum for sustaining an adequate radial flow of cold, molecular gas. Existing observational evidence supporting this scenario is mentioned, together with some future observational studies that may validate (or invalidate) it.

scholarly journals Quenching by gas compression and consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison W. S. Man ◽  
Matthew D. Lehnert ◽  
Joël D. R. Vernet ◽  
Carlos De Breuck ◽  
Theresa Falkendal
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Gas Compression ◽  
Formation History

The objective of this work is to study how active galactic nuclei (AGN) influence star formation in host galaxies. We present a detailed investigation of the star-formation history and conditions of a z = 2.57 massive radio galaxy based on VLT/X-shooter and ALMA observations. The deep rest-frame ultraviolet spectrum contains photospheric absorption lines and wind features indicating the presence of OB-type stars. The most significantly detected photospheric features are used to characterize the recent star formation: neither instantaneous nor continuous star-formation history is consistent with the relative strength of the Si IIλ1485 and S Vλ1502 absorption. Rather, at least two bursts of star formation took place in the recent past, at 6+1-2 Myr and ≳20 Myr ago, respectively. We deduce a molecular H2 gas mass of (3.9 ± 1.0) × 1010 M⊙ based on ALMA observations of the [C I] 3P2−3P1 emission. The molecular gas mass is only 13% of its stellar mass. Combined with its high star-formation rate of (1020-170+190 M⊙ yr-1, this implies a high star-formation efficiency of (26 ± 8) Gyr−1 and a short depletion time of (38 ± 12) Myr. We attribute the efficient star formation to compressive gas motions in order to explain the modest velocity dispersions (⩽55 km s−1) of the photospheric lines and of the star-forming gas traced by [C I]. Because of the likely very young age of the radio source, our findings suggest that vigorous star formation consumes much of the gas and works in concert with the AGN to remove any residual molecular gas, and eventually quenching star formation in massive galaxies.

scholarly journals Survival of molecular gas in a stellar feedback-driven outflow witnessed with the MUSE TIMER project and ALMA

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 3904-3928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Leaman ◽  
Francesca Fragkoudi ◽  
Miguel Querejeta ◽  
Gigi Y C Leung ◽  
Dimitri A Gadotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Field Lines

ABSTRACT Stellar feedback plays a significant role in modulating star formation, redistributing metals, and shaping the baryonic and dark structure of galaxies – however, the efficiency of its energy deposition to the interstellar medium is challenging to constrain observationally. Here we leverage HST and ALMA imaging of a molecular gas and dust shell ($M_{\mathrm{ H}_2} \sim 2\times 10^{5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) in an outflow from the nuclear star-forming ring of the galaxy NGC 3351, to serve as a boundary condition for a dynamical and energetic analysis of the outflowing ionized gas seen in our MUSE TIMER survey. We use starburst99 models and prescriptions for feedback from simulations to demonstrate that the observed star formation energetics can reproduce the ionized and molecular gas dynamics – provided a dominant component of the momentum injection comes from direct photon pressure from young stars, on top of supernovae, photoionization heating, and stellar winds. The mechanical energy budget from these sources is comparable to low luminosity active galactic neuclei, suggesting that stellar feedback can be a relevant driver of bulk gas motions in galaxy centres – although here ≲10−3 of the ionized gas mass is escaping the galaxy. We test several scenarios for the survival/formation of the cold gas in the outflow, including in situ condensation and cooling. Interestingly, the geometry of the molecular gas shell, observed magnetic field strengths and emission line diagnostics are consistent with a scenario where magnetic field lines aided survival of the dusty ISM as it was initially launched (with mass-loading factor ≲1) from the ring by stellar feedback. This system’s unique feedback-driven morphology can hopefully serve as a useful litmus test for feedback prescriptions in magnetohydrodynamical galaxy simulations.

scholarly journals The Connection between Molecular Gas and Star Formation in XUV Disks

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S321) ◽  
pp. 214-216
Author(s):  
Linda C. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Molecular Hydrogen ◽  
Optical Disk ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions

AbstractWe found that star-forming regions in extended ultraviolet (XUV) disks are generally consistent with the molecular-hydrogen Kennicutt-Schmidt law that applies within the inner, optical disk. This is true for star formation rates based on Hα + 24 μm data or FUV + 24 μm data. We estimated that the star-forming regions have ages of 1 − 7 Myr and propose that the presence or absence of molecular gas provides an additional “clock” that may help distinguish between aging and stochasticity as the explanation for the low Hα-to-FUV flux ratios in XUV disks. This contribution is a summary of the work originally presented in Watson et al. (2016).

scholarly journals Galaxies hosting an active galactic nucleus: a view from the CALIFA survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 3073-3090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo A D Lacerda ◽  
Sebastián F Sánchez ◽  
R Cid Fernandes ◽  
Carlos López-Cobá ◽  
Carlos Espinosa-Ponce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Morphological Type ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Type I ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Integral Field Spectroscopy ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Formation Efficiency

ABSTRACT We study the presence of optically-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) within a sample of 867 galaxies extracted from the extended Calar-Alto Legacy Integral Field spectroscopy Area (eCALIFA) spanning all morphological classes. We identify 10 Type-I and 24 Type-II AGNs, amounting to ∼4 per cent of our sample, similar to the fraction reported by previous explorations in the same redshift range. We compare the integrated properties of the ionized and molecular gas, and stellar population of AGN hosts and their non-active counterparts, combining them with morphological information. The AGN hosts are found in transitory parts (i.e. green-valley) in almost all analysed properties which present bimodal distributions (i.e. a region where reside star-forming galaxies and another with quiescent/retired ones). Regarding morphology, we find AGN hosts among the most massive galaxies, with enhanced central stellar-mass surface density in comparison to the average population at each morphological type. Moreover, their distribution peaks at the Sab-Sb classes and none are found among very late-type galaxies (>Scd). Finally, we inspect how the AGN could act in their hosts regarding the quenching of star-formation. The main role of the AGN in the quenching process appears to be the removal (or heating) of molecular gas, rather than an additional suppression of the already observed decrease of the star-formation efficiency from late-to-early type galaxies.

scholarly journals The lifecycle of molecular clouds in nearby star-forming disc galaxies

2019 ◽  
Vol 493 (2) ◽  
pp. 2872-2909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Chevance ◽  
J M Diederik Kruijssen ◽  
Alexander P S Hygate ◽  
Andreas Schruba ◽  
Steven N Longmore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Flux Ratio ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
H Ii Regions ◽  
Dynamical Processes ◽  
Nearby Star ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Disc Galaxies

ABSTRACT It remains a major challenge to derive a theory of cloud-scale ($\lesssim100$ pc) star formation and feedback, describing how galaxies convert gas into stars as a function of the galactic environment. Progress has been hampered by a lack of robust empirical constraints on the giant molecular cloud (GMC) lifecycle. We address this problem by systematically applying a new statistical method for measuring the evolutionary timeline of the GMC lifecycle, star formation, and feedback to a sample of nine nearby disc galaxies, observed as part of the PHANGS-ALMA survey. We measure the spatially resolved (∼100 pc) CO-to-H α flux ratio and find a universal de-correlation between molecular gas and young stars on GMC scales, allowing us to quantify the underlying evolutionary timeline. GMC lifetimes are short, typically $10\!-\!30\,{\rm Myr}$, and exhibit environmental variation, between and within galaxies. At kpc-scale molecular gas surface densities $\Sigma _{\rm H_2}\ge 8\,\rm {M_\odot}\,{{\rm pc}}^{-2}$, the GMC lifetime correlates with time-scales for galactic dynamical processes, whereas at $\Sigma _{\rm H_2}\le 8\,\rm {M_\odot}\,{{\rm pc}}^{-2}$ GMCs decouple from galactic dynamics and live for an internal dynamical time-scale. After a long inert phase without massive star formation traced by H α (75–90 per cent of the cloud lifetime), GMCs disperse within just $1\!-\!5\,{\rm Myr}$ once massive stars emerge. The dispersal is most likely due to early stellar feedback, causing GMCs to achieve integrated star formation efficiencies of 4–10 per cent. These results show that galactic star formation is governed by cloud-scale, environmentally dependent, dynamical processes driving rapid evolutionary cycling. GMCs and H ii regions are the fundamental units undergoing these lifecycles, with mean separations of $100\!-\!300\,{{\rm pc}}$ in star-forming discs. Future work should characterize the multiscale physics and mass flows driving these lifecycles.

scholarly journals High-J CO Intensity Measurements for Galaxies Observed by the Herschel FTS

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S315) ◽  
pp. 26-29
Author(s):  
Julia Kamenetzky ◽  
Naseem Rangwala ◽  
Jason Glenn ◽  
Philip Maloney ◽  
Alex Conley
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
J 13 ◽  
Systematic Effects ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Co Emission

AbstractMolecular gas is the raw material for star formation and is commonly traced by the carbon monoxide (CO) molecule. The atmosphere blocks all but the lowest-J transitions of CO for observatories on the ground, but the launch of the Herschel Space Observatory revealed the CO emission of nearby galaxies from J = 4−3 to J = 13−12. Herschel showed that mid- and high-J CO lines in nearby galaxies are emitted from warm gas, accounting for approximately 10% of the molecular mass, but the majority of the CO luminosity. The energy budget of this warm, highly-excited gas is a significant window into the feedback interactions among molecular gas, star formation, and galaxy evolution. Likely, mechanical heating is required to explain the excitation. Such gas has also been observed in star forming regions within our galaxy.We have examined all ~300 spectra of galaxies from the Herschel Fourier Transform Spectrometer and measured line fluxes or upper limits for the CO J = 4−3 to J = 13−12, [CI], and [NII] 205 micron lines in ~200 galaxies, taking systematic effects of the FTS into account. We will present our line fitting method, illustrate trends available so far in this large sample, and preview the full 2-component radiative transfer likelihood modeling of the CO emission using an illustrative sample of 20 galaxies, including comparisons to well-resolved galactic regions. This work is a comprehensive study of mid- and high-J CO emission among a variety of galaxy types, and can be used as a resource for future (sub)millimeter studies of galaxies with ground-based instruments.

scholarly journals A VLBI Study of H2O Maser Spots Associated with a Molecular Outflow ρ Oph-East

1994 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 60-61
Author(s):  
Takahiro Iwata ◽  
Hiroshi Takaba ◽  
Kin-Ya Matsumoto ◽  
Seiji Kameno ◽  
Noriyuki Kawaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Mass Star ◽  
Dynamical Interaction ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
Molecular Outflow ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
A Site

A molecular outflow is one of the most conspicuous active phenomena associated with protostars, and the kinetic energy of its outflowing mass is as large as that of random motions of ambient molecular cloud, which suggests that outflow has dynamically influence on ambient molecular gas. Possible observational evidence which suggests the existence of dynamical interaction between molecular outflow and ambient molecular cloud has been detected in several star forming regions (Fukui et al. 1986; Iwata et al. 1988). Recent detections of H2O maser emission associated with low-mass protostars (e.g. Comoretto et al. 1990) also suggest that there still exist active phenomena in the low-mass star forming regions.Molecular outflow ρ Oph-East, discovered toward a low-mass protostar IRAS 16293-2422 (Fukui et al. 1986), has been known as a site of dynamical interaction between molecular outflowing gas and ambient molecular cloud by CO and NH3 observation (Mizuno et al. 1990). Existence of several strong H2O maser spots (Wilking & Claussen 1987; Wotten 1989; Terebey et al. 1992) also suggests that active phenomena are occurring in this region. In this paper, we report our result of H2O maser observation for molecular outflow ρ Oph-East with milli-arcsecond resolution by VLBI.

scholarly journals Angular Momentum Accretion onto Disc Galaxies

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (A30) ◽  
pp. 228-232
Author(s):  
Filippo Fraternali ◽  
Gabriele Pezzulli
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Momentum Distribution ◽  
Intergalactic Medium ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Gas Accretion ◽  
Hot Corona ◽  
Inside Out ◽  
Disc Galaxies ◽  
Hubble Time

AbstractThroughout the Hubble time, gas makes its way from the intergalactic medium into galaxies fuelling their star formation and promoting their growth. One of the key properties of the accreting gas is its angular momentum, which has profound implications for the evolution of, in particular, disc galaxies. Here, we discuss how to infer the angular momentum of the accreting gas using observations of present-day galaxy discs. We first summarize evidence for ongoing inside-out growth of star forming discs. We then focus on the chemistry of the discs and show how the observed metallicity gradients can be explained if gas accretes onto a disc rotating with a velocity 20 – 30% lower than the local circular speed. We also show that these gradients are incompatible with accretion occurring at the edge of the discs and flowing radially inward. Finally, we investigate gas accretion from a hot corona with a cosmological angular momentum distribution and describe how simple models of rotating coronae guarantee the inside-out growth of disc galaxies.

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 The SFR Efficiency of HI Gas in the Outskirts of Star Forming Galaxies

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S321) ◽  
pp. 360-362
Author(s):  
Marc Rafelski
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Atomic Hydrogen ◽  
Rest Frame ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Uv Emission ◽  
Atomic Gas

AbstractIn order to understand the origin of the decreased star formation rate (SFR) efficiency of neutral atomic hydrogen gas measured in Damped Lyα Systems (DLAs) at z ~ 3, we measure the SFR efficiency of atomic gas at z ~ 1, z ~ 2, and z ~ 3 around star-forming galaxies. We create galaxy stacks in these three redshift bins, and measure the SFR efficiency by combining DLA absorber statistics with the observed rest-frame UV emission in the galaxies’ outskirts. We find that the SFR efficiency of Hi gas is ~ 3% of that predicted by the KS relation. We find no significant evolution in the SFR efficiency with redshift, although simulations and models predict a decreasing SFR efficiency with decreasing metallicity and thus with increasing redshift. We discuss possible explanations for this decreased efficiency without an evolution with redshift.

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