CO observations of infrared bright galaxies - The efficiency of star formation

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/164179· OSTI ID:5497092

Young, J S; Schloerb, F P; Kenney, J D; Lord, S D

CO emission has been detected in each of 14 of the IR-bright galaxies listed in IRAS Circular 15; for the nine galaxies of the largest angular size, the CO emission distributions along the major axis have been mapped. A strong correlation is noted between total CO luminosities and IR ones for galaxies in each of three ranges of dust temperature. The ratio of IR/CO luminosities increases with the ratio of 60/100-micron flux densities, consistent with emission of thermal origin at the characteristic temperature given by the dust temperature. If this luminosity ratio is a measure of the emergent stellar luminosity/unit molecular mass, or the efficiency of star formation, this efficiency varies over almost two orders of magnitude from one galaxy to another. 52 references.

• Research Organization: Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, Amherst, MA
• OSTI ID: 5497092
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 304; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FLUX DENSITY
GALAXIES
GASES
HYDROGEN
LUMINOSITY
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
STAR EVOLUTION