Current star formation in S0 galaxies: NGC 4710

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Elliptical Galaxies, Far Infrared Radiation, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Gases, Star Formation, Carbon Monoxide, Continuums, Cooling, Galactic Clusters, Hydrogen, Intergalactic Media, Losses, Millimeter Waves, Morphology, Parabolic Reflectors, Radio Physics, Stellar Mass

Scientific paper

Elliptical (E) and lenticular (S0) galaxies lack the substantial interstellar medium (ISM) found in the star-forming spiral galaxies. However, significant numbers of E and S0 galaxies are known to contain detectable amounts of interstellar matter (e.g., Jura 1988). Thus, it is worth investigating whether these galaxies are currently able to form stars from their ISM, or whether they should be consigned to the dustbin of inert objects (Thronson and Bally 1987). The results strongly imply that current star formation is responsible for NGC 4710's far infrared and radio continuum properties. If this is indeed the case, then one expects this star formation to be fueled by molecular gas, which is presumably dominated by H2 and can be traced by the CO-12 J=1 to 0 line. Both Kenney and Young (1988) and Sage and Wrobel (1989) have detected such an emission line from NGC 4710, and infer the presence of more than 108 solar mass of H2. The origin of the molecular gas in NGC 4710 remains a mystery. The galaxy is very deficient in HI (Kenney and Young, in preparation), suggesting that it originally was a spiral galaxy from which the outer, mainly atomic, gas was stripped by the ram pressure of the Virgo Cluster's intracluster medium, leaving only a central interstellar medium (ISM) rich in molecular gas. Alternatively, the CO may have originated via stellar mass loss with subsequent cooling, cooling flows, or capture from a gas-rich companion. Information on the morphology and kinematics of the CO can be compared with that of the galaxy's other gases and stars to distinguish among these various possible origins for the molecular gas. Major axis CO mapping with single dishes indicate an unresolved source. Thus, a millimeter array is currently being used to image NGC 4710 in CO to provide the needed morphological and kinematical data.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Current star formation in S0 galaxies: NGC 4710 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 Current star formation in S0 galaxies: NGC 4710, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Current star formation in S0 galaxies: NGC 4710 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1096127

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.