ALMA Resolves the Properties of Star-forming Regions in a Dense Gas Disk at z ~ 3

Author(s): A. Mark Swinbank, Simon Dye, J. W. Nightingale, C. Furlanetto, Ian R. Smail, Helmut Dannerbauer
Abstract: We exploit long baseline ALMA submillimeter observations of the lensed star-forming galaxy SDP 81 at z = 3.042 to investigate the properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) on scales of 50-100 pc. The kinematics of the ¹²CO gas within this system are well described by a rotationally supported disk with an inclination-corrected rotation speed, {{v}rot} = 320 ± 20 km s^-1, and a dynamical mass of {{M}_dyn} = (3.5 ± 1.0) × 10¹⁰ {{M}_⊙ } within a radius of 1.5 kpc. The disk is gas-rich and unstable, with a Toomre parameter, Q = 0.30 ± 0.10, and so into star-forming regions with Jeans length {{L}J} ~ 130 pc. We identify five star-forming regions within the ISM on these scales and show that their scaling relations between luminosity, line widths, and sizes are significantly offset from those typical of molecular clouds in local galaxies (Larson’s relations). These offsets are likely to be caused by the high external hydrostatic pressure for the ISM, {{P}_tot}/{{k}_B} ~ 40-20⁺³⁰ × 10⁷ K cm^-3, which is ~10⁴× higher than the typical ISM pressure in the Milky Way. The physical conditions of the star-forming ISM and giant molecular clouds appear to be similar to those found in the densest environments in the local universe, such as those in the Galactic center.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, Brazil., Durham University, University of Nottingham
Journal: The Astrophysical journal Letters
Volume: 806
No. of pages: 5
ISSN: 2041-8205
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/806/1/L17
Publication date: 06-2015
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/alma-resolves-the-properties-of-starforming-regions-in-a-dense-gas-disk-at-z--3(b2aae2a6-3cc6-4d87-a4fa-ee0de24cd680).html

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