Published April 10, 2013 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

A REDLINE STARBURST: CO(2-1) OBSERVATIONS OF AN EDDINGTON-LIMITED GALAXY REVEAL STAR FORMATION AT ITS MOST EXTREME

Creators

  • 1. Department of Physics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec (Canada)
  • 2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 (United States)
  • 3. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 (United States)
  • 4. Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique, 300 rue de la Piscine, F-38406 Saint Martin d'Hères (France)
  • 5. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Siena College, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 (United States)
  • 6. Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
  • 7. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 (United States)

Description

We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSS J1506+54, a compact (re ≈ 135 pc) starburst galaxy at z = 0.6. SDSS J1506+54 appears to be forming stars close to the limit allowed by stellar radiation pressure feedback models: the measured LIR/L'CO∼1500 is one of the highest measured for any galaxy. With its compact optical morphology but extended low surface brightness envelope, post-starburst spectral features, high infrared luminosity (LIR > 1012.5 L☉), low gas fraction (MH2/M*∼15%), and short gas depletion time (tens of Myr), we speculate that this is a feedback-limited central starburst episode at the conclusion of a major merger. Taken as such, SDSS J1504+54 epitomizes the brief closing stage of a classic model of galaxy growth: we are witnessing a key component of spheroid formation during what we term a ''redline'' starburst.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
767
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[5 p.]
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
44085855
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
BRIGHTNESS; CARBON OXIDES; EMISSION; EVOLUTION; FEEDBACK; GALAXIES; LUMINOSITY; SPHEROIDS; STARS; STELLAR RADIATION; SURFACES
Descriptors DEC
CARBON COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RADIATIONS