2005ApJ...624..714G -
Astrophys. J., 624, 714-725 (2005/May-2)
The nature of nearby counterparts to intermediate-redshift luminous compact blue galaxies. II. CO observations.
GARLAND C.A., WILLIAMS J.P., PISANO D.J., GUZMAN R., CASTANDER F.J. and BRINKMANN J.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present the results of a single-dish beam-matched survey of the three lowest rotational transitions of CO in a sample of 20 local (D≲70 Mpc) luminous compact blue galaxies (LCBGs). These ~L*, blue, high surface brightness, starbursting galaxies were selected on the same criteria used to define LCBGs at higher redshifts. Our detection rate was 70%, with those galaxies having LB<7x109 L☉not detected. We find that the H2masses of local LCBGs range from 6.6x106 to 2.7x109 M☉, assuming a Galactic CO-to-H2conversion factor. Combining these results with our earlier H I survey of the same sample, we find that the ratio of molecular to atomic gas mass is low, typically 5%-10%. Using a large velocity gradient model, we find that the average gas conditions of the entire interstellar medium in local LCBGs are similar to those found in the centers of star-forming regions in our Galaxy and in the nuclear regions of other galaxies. Star formation rates, determined from IRAS fluxes, are a few M☉/yr, much higher per unit dynamical mass than normal spiral galaxies. If this rate remains constant, the molecular hydrogen depletion timescales are short, ∼10-200 Myr.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
Galaxies: ISM - Galaxies: Starburst - Radio Lines: Galaxies
Simbad objects:
27
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