arXivDaily arXiv每日学术速递 周一至周五更新
arXiv 0810.2556astro-ph
收藏

邻近星系的恒星形成效率:测量气体有效形成恒星的位置

The Star Formation Efficiency in Nearby Galaxies: Measuring Where Gas Forms Stars Effectively

Adam K. Leroy, Fabian Walter, Elias Brinks, Frank Bigiel, W. J. G. de Blok, Barry Madore, M. D. Thornley

摘要:

我们测量了恒星形成效率(SFE),每单位气体的恒星形成率,在23个附近的星系,并将其与建议的恒星形成定律和阈值的预期进行比较。我们使用HI地图的东西,并从HERACLES和BIMA宋公司获得H2地图。我们估计恒星形成率结合GALEX FV地图和SINGS 24微米的地图,推断恒星表面密度分布从SINGS 3.6微米的数据,并使用运动学的东西。我们测量的SFE作为一个函数:自由落体和轨道时间尺度;中平面气体压力;稳定的气体盘崩溃(包括恒星的影响);尽管剪切扰动增长的能力;和冷相形成的能力。在我们的800 pc分辨率下,在螺旋星系中,作为所有这些变量的函数,单独的H2的SFE几乎是恒定的,为5.25 +/- 2.5 × 10^(-10)yr^(-1)(相当于H2的耗尽时间为1.9 × 10 ^9 yr)。在ISM主要是HI,另一方面,SFE随着半径的增加而减少,在螺旋星系和矮星系,一个下降合理地描述了一个指数尺度长度为0.2-0.25 r_25。我们将这种下降解释为GMC形成对环境的强烈依赖。H2与HI的比率似乎是半径、恒星表面密度和压力的平滑函数,从H2主导的ISM到HI主导的ISM。径向下降的超临界流体是太陡,复制只有通过增加自由落体时间或轨道时间。大规模不稳定的证据表明,我们的磁盘是稳定的或边缘稳定,并没有显示出一个明确的链接到下降的SFE。我们认为,ISM物理下的尺度,我们观察到-相平衡的HI,H2的形成和破坏,和恒星的反馈-管理从HI的GMCs的形成。

英文摘要:

We measure the star formation efficiency (SFE), the star formation rate per unit gas, in 23 nearby galaxies and compare it to expectations from proposed star formation laws and thresholds. We use HI maps from THINGS and derive H2 maps from HERACLES and BIMA SONG CO. We estimate the star formation rate by combining GALEX FUV maps and SINGS 24 micron maps, infer stellar surface density profiles from SINGS 3.6 micron data, and use kinematics from THINGS. We measure the SFE as a function of: the free-fall and orbital timescales; midplane gas pressure; stability of the gas disk to collapse (including the effects of stars); the ability of perturbations to grow despite shear; and the ability of a cold phase to form. In spirals, the SFE of H2 alone is nearly constant at 5.25 +/- 2.5 x 10^(-10) yr^(-1) (equivalent to an H2 depletion time of 1.9x10^9 yr) as a function of all of these variables at our 800 pc resolution. Where the ISM is mostly HI, on the other hand, the SFE decreases with increasing radius in both spiral and dwarf galaxies, a decline reasonably described by an exponential with scale length 0.2-0.25 r_25. We interpret this decline as a strong dependence of GMC formation on environment. The ratio of H2 to HI appears to be a smooth function of radius, stellar surface density, and pressure spanning from the H2-dominated to HI-dominated ISM. The radial decline in SFE is too steep to be reproduced only by increases in the free-fall time or orbital time. Thresholds for large-scale instability suggest that our disks are stable or marginally stable and do not show a clear link to the declining SFE. We suggest that ISM physics below the scales that we observe - phase balance in the HI, H2 formation and destruction, and stellar feedback - governs the formation of GMCs from HI.

机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来,可能存在错误,请以论文正文为准。

↑