High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077

Details High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077 High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077

Dec 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000aas...197.3802w&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 197th AAS Meeting, #38.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 32, p.1453

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

We present the first high resolution observations of molecular gas in the tidal arms near NGC 3077 (member of the M 81 triplet) obtained at the OVRO millimeter array. The observations are centered on a region where we recently detected molecular gas in the CO (J=1-0) and (2-1) transitions using the IRAM 30m telescope. The molecular gas is extended over several kpc and is situated far outside NGC 3077. The CO emission can be separated into at least 3 distinct complexes with equivalent radii between 250 pc and 700 pc. Mass estimates based on virialization and employing an XCO factor yield a total mass for the complexes of order 4*E7 Msun i.e. more than the estimated molecular mass within NGC 3077 itself. This implies that interactions between galaxies can efficiently remove heavy elements and molecules from a galaxy and enrich the intergalactic medium. A comparison of the distribution of HI and CO shows no clear correlation. HI masses for the molecular complexes mapped are of the same order as the corresponding molecular masses. Based on the morphology and the line widths of the CO and the HI we conclude that the complexes are gravitationally stable and have formed in situ. Since the complexes have all the ingredients to form stars in the future, we are thus perhaps witnessing the birth of a tidal dwarf galaxy. This formation process may have been important at larger look-back times where galaxy-galaxy interactions were more frequent.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077 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 High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High Resolution Observations of Molecular Gas in the Tidal Arms near NGC 3077 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1723919