ISM MASSES AND THE STAR FORMATION LAW AT Z = 1 TO 6: ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF DUST CONTINUUM IN 145 GALAXIES IN THE COSMOS SURVEY FIELD
California Institute of Technology · National Radio Astronomy Observatory · +14 more institutions
Abstract
ABSTRACT ALMA Cycle 2 observations of long-wavelength dust emission in 145 star-forming galaxies are used to probe the evolution of the star-forming interstellar medium (ISM). We also develop a physical basis and empirical calibration (with 72 low- z and z ∼ 2 galaxies) for using the dust continuum as a quantitative probe of ISM masses. The galaxies with the highest star formation rates (SFRs) at = 2.2 and 4.4 have gas masses up to 100 times that of the Milky Way and gas mass fractions reaching 50%–80%, i.e., gas masses 1-4× their stellar masses. We find a single high- z star formation law: yr −1 —an approximately linear dependence on the ISM mass and an increased star formation efficiency per unit gas mass at…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 42.76
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 109
Authors
20- NZN. Z. ScovilleCorresponding
California Institute of Technology
- KSKartik Sheth
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
- HAH. Aussel
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris Cité, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation
- PAPaul A. Vanden Bout
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
- PCP. Capak
California Institute of Technology
Topics & keywords
- Physics
- Astrophysics
- Star formation
- Galaxy
- Interstellar medium
- Stellar mass
- Stars
- Astronomy