Bibcode
Warren, B. E.; Wilson, C. D.; Israel, F. P.; Serjeant, S.; Bendo, G. J.; Brinks, E.; Clements, D. L.; Irwin, J. A.; Knapen, J. H.; Leech, J.; Matthews, H. E.; Mühle, S.; Mortimer, A. M. J.; Petitpas, G.; Sinukoff, E.; Spekkens, K.; Tan, B. K.; Tilanus, R. P. J.; Usero, A.; van der Werf, P. P.; Vlahakis, C.; Wiegert, T.; Zhu, M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 714, Issue 1, pp. 571-588 (2010).
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5
2010
Journal
Citations
40
Refereed citations
35
Description
We present the results of large-area 12CO J = 3-2 emission
mapping of three nearby field galaxies, NGC 628, NGC 3521, and NGC 3627,
completed at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope as part of the Nearby
Galaxies Legacy Survey. These galaxies all have moderate to strong
12CO J = 3-2 detections over large areas of the fields
observed by the survey, showing resolved structure and dynamics in their
warm/dense molecular gas disks. All three galaxies were part of the
Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey sample, and as such have
excellent published multiwavelength ancillary data. These data sets
allow us to examine the star formation properties, gas content, and
dynamics of these galaxies on sub-kiloparsec scales. We find that the
global gas depletion time for dense/warm molecular gas in these galaxies
is consistent with other results for nearby spiral galaxies, indicating
this may be independent of galaxy properties such as structures, gas
compositions, and environments. Similar to the results from The H I
Nearby Galaxy Survey, we do not see a correlation of the star formation
efficiency with the gas surface density consistent with the
Schmidt-Kennicutt law. Finally, we find that the star formation
efficiency of the dense molecular gas traced by 12CO J = 3-2
is potentially flat or slightly declining as a function of molecular gas
density, the 12CO J = 3-2/J = 1-0 ratio (in contrast to the
correlation found in a previous study into the starburst galaxy M83),
and the fraction of total gas in molecular form.
Related projects
Spiral Galaxies: Evolution and Consequences
Our small group is well known and respected internationally for our innovative and important work on various aspects of the structure and evolution of nearby spiral galaxies. We primarily use observations at various wavelengths, exploiting synergies that allow us to answer the most pertinent questions relating to what the main properties of
Johan Hendrik
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