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- Gao, Yulong, et al.
(author)
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The molecular gas resolved by ALMA in the low-metallicity merging dwarf galaxy Haro 11
- 2022
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 661
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The physical mechanisms driving starbursts and quenching in less massive (M* ≤ 1010 M⊙) galaxies are unclear. The merger is one of the inescapable processes referred to as both starburst and quenching in massive galaxies. However, the effects of the merger on star formation in dwarf galaxies and their evolution are still uncertain.Aims. We aim to explore how star formation in dwarf galaxies is both triggered and quenched by studying metal-poor gas-rich dwarf mergers based on multi-band observations at a spatial resolution of ∼460 pc.Methods. We use archival data of Atacama Large Millimetre Array (Band 3 and 8) and Very Large Telescope/Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer to map CO(J = 1–0), [CI](3P1–3P0), and Hα emission in one of the most extreme merging starburst dwarf galaxies, Haro 11.Results. We find the molecular gas is assembled around the central two star-forming regions (knots B and C). The molecular and ionized gas and stellar components show complex kinematics, indicating that the gas is probably at a combined stage of collision of clouds and feedback from star formation. The peak location and distribution of [CI](1–0) closely coincide with the CO(1–0) emission, meaning that it might trace the same molecular gas as CO in such a dwarf merger starburst galaxy. The enhancement of line ratios (∼0.5) of [CI]/CO around knot C is probably generated by the dissociation of CO molecules by cosmic rays and far-ultraviolet photons. Globally, Haro 11 and its star-forming regions share similar star formation efficiency (SFE) to the high-z starburst galaxies or the clumps in nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxies.Conclusions. Given the high SFE, the high specific star formation rate, small stellar mass, low metallicity, and deficient HI gas, Haro 11 could be an analog of a high-z dwarf starburst and the potential progenitor of the nearby less massive elliptical galaxies. The significantly smaller turbulent pressure and viral parameter is probably triggering the intense starbursts. We predict that Haro 11 will quench at M* ≤ 8.5 × 109 M⊙.
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2. |
- Zhou, Jing, et al.
(author)
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Dense Gas and Star Formation in Nearby Infrared-bright Galaxies: APEX Survey of HCN and HCO+ J=2 -> 1
- 2022
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 936:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Both Galactic and extragalactic studies of star formation suggest that stars form directly from dense molecular gas. To trace such high volume density gas, HCN and HCO+ J = 1 -> 0 have been widely used for their high dipole moments, relatively high abundances, and often being the strongest lines after CO. However, HCN and HCO+ J = 1 -> 0 emission could arguably be dominated by the gas components at low volume densities. The HCN J = 2 -> 1 and HCO+ J = 2 -> 1 transitions, with more suitable critical densities (1.6 x 10(6) and 2.8 x 10(5) cm(-3)) and excitation requirements, would trace typical dense gas closely related to star formation. Here we report new observations of HCN J = 2 -> 1 and HCO+ J = 2 -> 1 toward 17 nearby infrared-bright galaxies with the APEX 12 m telescope. The correlation slopes between the luminosities of HCN J = 2 -> 1 and HCO+ J = 2 -> 1 and total infrared emission are 1.03 +/- 0.05 and 1.00 +/- 0.05, respectively. The correlations of their surface densities, normalized with the area of radio/submillimeter continuum, show even tighter relations (slopes: 0.99 +/- 0.03 and 1.02 +/- 0.03). The eight active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated galaxies show no significant difference from the 11 star-formation-dominated galaxies in the above relations. The average HCN/HCO+ ratios are 1.15 +/- 0.26 and 0.98 +/- 0.42 for AGN- and star-formation-dominated galaxies, respectively, without obvious dependencies on infrared luminosity, dust temperature, or infrared pumping. The Magellanic Clouds roughly follow the same correlations, expanding to 8 orders of magnitude. On the other hand, ultraluminous infrared galaxies with AGNs systematically lie above the correlations, indicating potential biases introduced by AGNs.
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