The ALMaQUEST survey - VI. The molecular gas main sequence of 'retired' regions in galaxies
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Ellison, Sara L.
•
Lin, Lihwai
•
Thorp, Mallory D.
•
Pan, Hsi-An
•
Sánchez, Sebastian F.
•
Bluck, Asa F. L.
•
Abstract
In order to investigate the role of gas in the demise of star formation on kpc-scales, we compare the resolved molecular gas main sequence (rMGMS: $\Sigma _{\rm H_2}$ versus Σ⋆) of star-forming regions to the sequence of 'retired' regions that have ceased to form new stars. Using data from the ALMaQUEST survey, we find that retired spaxels form a rMGMS that is distinct from that of star-forming spaxels, offset to lower $\Sigma _{\rm H_2}$ at fixed Σ⋆ by a factor of ∼5. We study the rMGMS of star-forming and retired spaxels on a galaxy-by-galaxy basis for eight individual ALMaQUEST(ALMA MaNGA QUEnching and STar formation) galaxies. Six of these galaxies have their retired spaxels concentrated within the central few kpc. Molecular gas is detected in 40-100 per cent of retired spaxels in the eight galaxies in our sample. Both the star-forming and retired rMGMS show a diversity in normalization from galaxy to galaxy. However, in any given galaxy, the rMGMS for retired regions is found to be distinct from the star-forming sequence and gas fractions of retired spaxels are up to an order of magnitude lower than the star-forming spaxels. We conclude that quenching is associated with a depletion (but not absence) of molecular gas via a mechanism that typically begins in the centre of the galaxy.
Volume
502
Issue
1
Start page
L6
Issn Identifier
1745-3925
Ads BibCode
2021MNRAS.502L...6E
Rights
open.access
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
slaa199.pdf
Description
Pdf editoriale
Size
1.74 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
0c2ead943b955816bc20d3633e5f424b
Loading...
Name
2012.04772.pdf
Description
postprint
Size
735.13 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4202bade0634f793282f20a14b3f0f7d