Rise and fall of molecular clouds across the M33 disk
Journal
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
We carried out deep searches for CO line emission in the outer disk of M33,
at R>7 kpc, and examined the dynamical conditions that can explain variations
in the mass distribution of the molecular cloud throughout the disk of M33. We
used the IRAM-30~m telescope to search for CO lines in the outer disk toward 12
faint mid-infrared (MIR) selected sources and in an area of the southern outer
disk hosting MA1, a bright HII region. We detect narrow CO lines at the
location of two MIR sources at galactocentric distances of about 8 kpc that are
associated with low-mass young stellar clusters, and at four locations in the
proximity of MA1. The paucity of CO lines at the location of weak MIR-selected
sources probably arises because most of them are not star-forming sites in M33,
but background sources. Although very uncertain, the total molecular mass of
the detected clouds around MA1 is lower than expected given the stellar mass of
the cluster, because dispersal of the molecular gas is taking place as the HII
region expands. The mean mass of the giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in M33
decreases radially by a factor 2 from the center out to 4 kpc, then it stays
constant until it drops at R>7 kpc. We suggest that GMCs become more massive
toward the center because of the fast rotation of the disk, which drives mass
growth by coalescence of smaller condensations as they cross the arms. The
analysis of both HI and CO spectral data gives the consistent result that
corotation of the two main arms in this galaxy is at a radius of 4.7+-0.3 kpc,
and spiral shock waves become subsonic beyond 3.9 kpc. Perturbations are
quenched beyond 6.5 kpc, where CO lines have been detected only around sporadic
condensations associated with UV and MIR emission.
Volume
622
Start page
A171
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Ads BibCode
2019A&A...622A.171C
Rights
open.access
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