FIRST VIEWS OF A NEARBY LIRG: STAR FORMATION AND MOLECULAR GAS IN IRAS 04296+2923
- Department of Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1562 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Ramat Aviv (Israel)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Boulevard, MS 169-327, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States)
We present a first look at the local luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) IRAS 04296+2923. This barred spiral galaxy, overlooked because of its location behind the Taurus molecular cloud, is among the half dozen closest (D = 29 Mpc) LIRGs. More IR-luminous than either M82 or the Antennae, it may be the best local example of a nuclear starburst caused by bar-mediated secular evolution. We present Palomar J and Pa {beta} images, Very Large Array continuum maps from {lambda}= 20-1.3 cm, a subarcsecond Keck Long Wavelength Spectrometer image at 11.7 {mu}m and Owens Valley Millimeter Array CO(1-0), {sup 13}CO(1-0), and 2.7 mm continuum images. The J-band image reveals a symmetric barred spiral galaxy. Two bright, compact mid-infrared and radio sources in the nucleus mark a starburst that is energetically equivalent to {approx}10{sup 5} O7 stars, separated by {approx}<50 pc. This is probably a pair of young super star clusters, with estimated stellar masses of {approx}10{sup 7} M{sub sun} each. The nuclear starburst is forming stars at the rate of {approx}12 {+-} 6 M{sub sun} yr{sup -1}, or about half of the total star formation rate for the galaxy of {approx}25 {+-} 10 M{sub sun} yr{sup -1}. IRAS 04296+2923 is very bright in CO, and among the most gas-rich galaxies in the local universe. The {sup 12}CO luminosity of the inner half kpc is equivalent to that of the entire Milky Way. While the most intense CO emission is extended over a 15'' (2 kpc) diameter region, the nuclear starburst is confined to within 1''-2'' (150-250 pc) of the dynamical center. Based on masses obtained with {sup 13}CO, we find that the CO conversion factor in the nucleus is lower than the Galactic value, X {sup Gal}{sub CO} by a factor of three to four, typical of gas-rich spiral nuclei. The nuclear star formation efficiency (SFE) is {sup nuc}M{sub gas}/SFR{sup nuc} = 2.7 x 10{sup -8}yr{sup -1}, corresponding to a gas consumption timescale, {tau}{sup nuc}{sub SF} {approx} 4 x 10{sup 7} yr. The SFE is 10 times lower in the disk, with {tau}{sup disk}{sub SF} {approx} 3.3 x 10{sup 8} yr. The low absolute SFE in the disk implies that the molecular gas is not completely consumed before it drifts into the nucleus, and is capable of fueling a sustained nuclear starburst. IRAS 04296+2923 appears to be beginning a 100 Myr period as an LIRG, during which it will turn much of its 6 x 10{sup 9} M{sub sun} of molecular gas into a nuclear cluster of stars.
- OSTI ID:
- 21443199
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 140, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-6256/140/5/1294; ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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