A redline starburst: CO(2-1) observations of an Eddington-limited galaxy reveal star formation at its most extreme

J. E. Geach; R. C. Hickox; A. M. Diamond-Stanic; M. Krips; J. Moustakas; C. A. Tremonti; A. L. Coil; P. H. Sell; G. H. Rudnick

doi:10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17

A redline starburst: CO(2-1) observations of an Eddington-limited galaxy reveal star formation at its most extreme

J. E. Geach, R. C. Hickox, A. M. Diamond-Stanic, M. Krips, J. Moustakas, C. A. Tremonti, A. L. Coil, P. H. Sell, G. H. Rudnick

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Abstract

We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSS J1506+54, a compact (r(e) approximate to 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 L-IR/L-CO' approximate to 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 (L-IR > 10(12.5) L-circle dot), low gas fraction (M-H2 /M-star approximate to 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.

Original language	English
Article number	L17
Number of pages	5
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	767
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17
Publication status	Published - 10 Apr 2013

Keywords

galaxies: starburst
MASSIVE GALAXIES
ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
galaxies: evolution
LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES
MOLECULAR GAS
MERGERS
HIGH-REDSHIFT
ATOMIC LINE SURVEYS
FORMING GALAXIES
galaxies: formation
RADIATION PRESSURE
FEEDBACK

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title = "A redline starburst: CO(2-1) observations of an Eddington-limited galaxy reveal star formation at its most extreme",

abstract = "We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSS J1506+54, a compact (r(e) approximate to 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 L-IR/L-CO' approximate to 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 (L-IR > 10(12.5) L-circle dot), low gas fraction (M-H2 /M-star approximate to 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.",

keywords = "galaxies: starburst, MASSIVE GALAXIES, ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI, galaxies: evolution, LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES, MOLECULAR GAS, MERGERS, HIGH-REDSHIFT, ATOMIC LINE SURVEYS, FORMING GALAXIES, galaxies: formation, RADIATION PRESSURE, FEEDBACK",

author = "Geach, {J. E.} and Hickox, {R. C.} and Diamond-Stanic, {A. M.} and M. Krips and J. Moustakas and Tremonti, {C. A.} and Coil, {A. L.} and Sell, {P. H.} and Rudnick, {G. H.}",

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doi = "10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17",

language = "English",

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AU - Geach, J. E.

AU - Hickox, R. C.

AU - Diamond-Stanic, A. M.

AU - Krips, M.

AU - Moustakas, J.

AU - Tremonti, C. A.

AU - Coil, A. L.

AU - Sell, P. H.

AU - Rudnick, G. H.

PY - 2013/4/10

Y1 - 2013/4/10

N2 - We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSS J1506+54, a compact (r(e) approximate to 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 L-IR/L-CO' approximate to 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 (L-IR > 10(12.5) L-circle dot), low gas fraction (M-H2 /M-star approximate to 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.

AB - We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSS J1506+54, a compact (r(e) approximate to 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 L-IR/L-CO' approximate to 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 (L-IR > 10(12.5) L-circle dot), low gas fraction (M-H2 /M-star approximate to 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.

KW - galaxies: starburst

KW - MASSIVE GALAXIES

KW - ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

KW - galaxies: evolution

KW - LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES

KW - MOLECULAR GAS

KW - MERGERS

KW - HIGH-REDSHIFT

KW - ATOMIC LINE SURVEYS

KW - FORMING GALAXIES

KW - galaxies: formation

KW - RADIATION PRESSURE

KW - FEEDBACK

U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17

DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/767/1/L17

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 767

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 1

M1 - L17

ER -

A redline starburst: CO(2-1) observations of an Eddington-limited galaxy reveal star formation at its most extreme

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Keywords

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