Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aspc..375..291w&link_type=abstract
From Z-Machines to ALMA: (Sub)Millimeter Spectroscopy of Galaxies ASP Conference Series, Vol. 375, proceedings of the conference
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Observations have revealed prodigious amounts of star formation in starburst galaxies as traced by dust and molecular emission, even at large redshifts. Recent work shows that for both nearby spiral galaxies and distant starbursts, the global star formation rate, as indicated by the infrared luminosity, has a tight and almost linear correlation with the amount of dense gas as traced by the luminosity of HCN. Our surveys of Galactic dense cores in HCN(1--0) and HCN(3--2) emission show that this correlation continues to a much smaller scale, with nearly the same ratio of infrared luminosity to HCN luminosity found over 7--8 orders of magnitude in LFIR, with a lower cutoff around 104.5 L_&sun; in infrared luminosity. This correlation suggests a power law index N for the Schimidt law of unity, different from those derived from observations tracing less dense gas like CO. The correlation implies that we may understand distant star formation in terms of the known properties of local star-forming regions. We propose a model in which the basic unit of star formation is a dense core, similar to those studied in our Galaxy; this model may explain both the correlation and the luminosity cutoff.
Evans Nick
Gao Yanfang
Shirley Yancy
Solomon Patty
vanden Bout Paul
No associations
LandOfFree
The Star Formation Law in Terms of Dense Gas: A Model of Star Formation in Galaxies does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Star Formation Law in Terms of Dense Gas: A Model of Star Formation in Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Star Formation Law in Terms of Dense Gas: A Model of Star Formation in Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-955590