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Molecular Gas and Star Formation in Local Early-type Galaxies
- Source :
- Tracing the Ancestry of Galaxies (on the land of our ancestors): Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 277, 55-58
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- The molecular gas content of local early-type galaxies is constrained and discussed in relation to their evolution. First, as part of the Atlas3D survey, we present the first complete, large (260 objects), volume-limited single-dish survey of CO in normal local early-type galaxies. We find a surprisingly high detection rate of 22%, independent of luminosity and at best weakly dependent on environment. Second, the extent of the molecular gas is constrained with CO synthesis imaging, and a variety of morphologies is revealed. The kinematics of the molecular gas and stars are often misaligned, implying an external gas origin in over a third of the systems, although this behaviour is drastically diffferent between field and cluster environments. Third, many objects appear to be in the process of forming regular kpc-size decoupled disks, and a star formation sequence can be sketched by piecing together multi-wavelength information on the molecular gas, current star formation, and young stars. Last, early-type galaxies do not seem to systematically obey all our usual prejudices regarding star formation, following the standard Schmidt-Kennicutt law but not the far infrared-radio correlation. This may suggest a greater diversity in star formation processes than observed in disk galaxies. Using multiple molecular tracers, we are thus starting to probe the physical conditions of the cold gas in early-types.<br />Proceedings of the IAU Symposium 277 "Tracing the Ancestry of Galaxies". 4 pages, 3 figures
- Subjects :
- Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
Field (physics)
FOS: Physical sciences
Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
cD
Luminosity
ISM: evolution
Cluster (physics)
galaxies: elliptical and lenticular
galaxies: kinematics and dynamics
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
ISM: kinematics and dynamics
Physics
Star formation
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
ISM: molecules
Galaxy
Early type
Stars
Space and Planetary Science
Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
Detection rate
galaxies: evolution
galaxies: ISM
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17439221 and 17439213
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 277
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- TRACING THE ANCESTRY OF GALAXIES (ON THE LAND OF OUR ANCESTORS)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6a578f7d0a84895cd1ea510f4ffde8c5