Extraplanar Regions Research Articles

On the Origin of the 107 K Hot Emitting Gas in the Circumgalactic Medium of the Milky Way

The presence of the ≈106 K gas in the circumgalactic medium of the Milky Way (MW) has been well established. However, the location and the origin of the newly discovered hot gas at “supervirial (SV)” temperatures of ≈107 K have been puzzling. This hot gas has been detected in both absorption and emission; here, we focus on the emitting gas only. We show that both the “virial” and the SV temperature gas, as observed in emission, occupy disk-like extraplanar regions, in addition to the diffuse virial temperature gas filling the halo of the MW. We perform idealized hydrodynamical simulations to show that the ≈107 K emitting gas is likely to be produced by stellar feedback in and around the Galactic disk. We further show that the emitting gas at both SV and virial temperatures in the extraplanar regions is metal enriched and is not in hydrostatic equilibrium with the halo but is continuously evolving.

HST Imaging of Star-forming Clumps in Six GASP Ram-pressure-stripped Galaxies

Exploiting broad- and narrowband images of the Hubble Space Telescope from the near-UV to I-band rest frame, we study the star-forming clumps of six galaxies of the GASP sample undergoing strong ram pressure stripping. Clumps are detected in Hα and near-UV, tracing star formation on different timescales. We consider clumps located in galaxy disks and stripped tails and formed in stripped gas but still close to the disk, called extraplanar. We detect 2406 Hα-selected clumps (1708 in disks, 375 in extraplanar regions, and 323 in tails) and 3745 UV-selected clumps (2021 disk, 825 extraplanar, and 899 tail clumps). Only ∼15% of star-forming clumps are spatially resolved, meaning that most are smaller than ∼140 pc. We study the luminosity and size distribution functions (LDFs and SDFs, respectively) and the luminosity–size relation. The average LDF slope is 1.79 ± 0.09, while the average SDF slope is 3.1 ± 0.5. The results suggest that the star formation is turbulence-driven and scale-free, as in main-sequence galaxies. All of the clumps, whether they are in the disks or tails, have an enhanced Hα luminosity at a given size, compared to the clumps in main-sequence galaxies. Indeed, their Hα luminosity is closer to that of clumps in starburst galaxies, indicating that ram pressure is able to enhance the luminosity. No striking differences are found among disk and tail clumps, suggesting that the different environments in which they are embedded play a minor role in influencing the star formation.

Nearby galaxies in the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey

Context. Cosmic rays and magnetic fields are key ingredients in galaxy evolution, regulating both stellar feedback and star formation. Their properties can be studied with low-frequency radio continuum observations that are free from thermal contamination. Aims. We define a sample of 76 nearby (< 30 Mpc) galaxies with rich ancillary data in the radio continuum and infrared from the CHANG-ES and KINGFISH surveys, which will be observed with the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) at 144 MHz. Methods. We present maps for 45 of them as part of the LoTSS data release 2 (LoTSS-DR2), where we measure integrated flux densities and study integrated and spatially resolved radio spectral indices. We investigate the radio–star formation rate (SFR) relation using SFRs derived from total infrared and Hα + 24-μm emission. Results. The radio–SFR relation at 144 MHz is clearly super-linear with L144 MHz ∝ SFR1.4−1.5. The mean integrated radio spectral index between 144 and ≈1400 MHz is ⟨α⟩= − 0.56 ± 0.14, in agreement with the injection spectral index for cosmic ray electrons (CREs). However, the radio spectral index maps show variation of spectral indices with flatter spectra associated with star-forming regions and steeper spectra in galaxy outskirts and, in particular, in extra-planar regions. We found that galaxies with high SFRs have steeper radio spectra; we find similar correlations with galaxy size, mass, and rotation speed. Conclusions. Galaxies that are larger and more massive are better electron calorimeters, meaning that the CRE lose a higher fraction of their energy within the galaxies. This explains the super-linear radio–SFR relation, with more massive, star-forming galaxies being radio bright. We propose a semi-calorimetric radio–SFR relation that employs the galaxy mass as a proxy for the calorimetric efficiency.

Dual Effects of Ram Pressure on Star Formation in Multiphase Disk Galaxies with Strong Stellar Feedback

Abstract We investigate the impact of ram pressure stripping due to the intracluster medium (ICM) on star-forming disk galaxies with a multiphase interstellar medium maintained by strong stellar feedback. We carry out radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of an isolated disk galaxy embedded in a 1011 M ⊙ dark matter halo with various ICM winds mimicking the cluster outskirts (moderate) and the central environment (strong). We find that both star formation quenching and triggering occur in ram pressure–stripped galaxies, depending on the strength of the winds. H i and H2 in the outer galactic disk are significantly stripped in the presence of moderate winds, whereas turbulent pressure provides support against ram pressure in the central region, where star formation is active. Moderate ICM winds facilitate gas collapse, increasing the total star formation rates by ∼40% when the wind is oriented face-on or by ∼80% when it is edge-on. In contrast, strong winds rapidly blow away neutral and molecular hydrogen gas from the galaxy, suppressing star formation by a factor of 2 within ∼200 Myr. Dense gas clumps with n H ≳ 10 M ⊙ pc−2 are easily identified in extraplanar regions, but no significant young stellar populations are found in such clumps. In our attempts to enhance radiative cooling by adopting a colder ICM of T = 106 K, only a few additional stars are formed in the tail region, even if the amount of newly cooled gas increases by an order of magnitude.

Radio haloes of star-forming galaxies

ABSTRACT We study the synchrotron radio emission from extra-planar regions of star-forming galaxies. We use ideal magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a rotating Milky Way-type disc galaxy with distributed star formation sites for three star formation rates (0.3, 3, 30 M⊙ yr−1). From our simulations, we see emergence of galactic-scale magnetized outflows, carrying gas from the disc. We compare the morphology of the outflowing gas with hydrodynamic simulations. We look at the spatial distribution of magnetic field in the outflows. Assuming that a certain fraction of gas energy density is converted into cosmic ray energy density, and using information about the magnetic field, we obtain synchrotron emissivity throughout the simulation domain. We generate the surface brightness maps at 1.4 GHz. The outflows are more extended in the vertical direction than radial and hence have an oblate shape. We further find that the matter right behind the outer shock shines brighter in these maps than that above or below. To understand whether this feature can be observed, we produce vertical intensity profiles. We convolve the vertical intensity profile with the typical beam sizes of radio telescopes, for a galaxy located at 10 Mpc to estimate the radio scale height and compare with observations. The radio scale height is ∼300–1200 pc, depending on the resolution of the telescope. We relate the advection speed of the outer shock with the surface density of star formation as ${\rm v}_{\rm adv} \propto \Sigma _{\rm SFR}^{0.3}$, which is consistent with earlier observations and analytical estimates.

Star formation driven galactic winds in UGC 10043

We study the galactic wind in the edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 10043 with the combination of the CALIFA integral field spectroscopy data, scanning Fabry-Perot interferometry (FPI), and multiband photometry. We detect ionized gas in the extraplanar regions reaching a relatively high distance, up to ~ 4 kpc above the galactic disk. The ionized gas line ratios ([N ii]/Ha, [S ii]/Ha and [O i]/Ha) present an enhancement along the semi minor axis, in contrast with the values found at the disk, where they are compatible with ionization due to H ii-regions. These differences, together with the biconic symmetry of the extra-planar ionized structure, makes UGC 10043 a clear candidate for a galaxy with gas outflows ionizated by shocks. From the comparison of shock models with the observed line ratios, and the kinematics observed from the FPI data, we constrain the physical properties of the observed outflow. The data are compatible with a velocity increase of the gas along the extraplanar distances up to < 400 km/s and the preshock density decreasing in the same direction. We also observe a discrepancy in the SFR estimated based on Ha (0.36 Msun/yr ) and the estimated with the CIGALE code, being the latter 5 times larger. Nevertheless, this SFR is still not enough to drive the observed galactic wind if we do not take into account the filling factor. We stress that the combination of the three techniques of observation with models is a powerful tool to explore galactic winds in the Local Universe.

Superbubble breakout and galactic winds from disc galaxies

We study the conditions for disk galaxies to produce superbubbles that can break out of the disk and produce a galactic wind. We argue that the threshold surface density of supernovae rate for seeding a wind depends on the ability of superbubble energetics to compensate for radiative cooling. We first adapt Kompaneets formalism for expanding bubbles in a stratified medium to the case of continuous energy injection and include the effects of radiative cooling in the shell. With the help of hydrodynamic simulations, we then study the evolution of superbubbles evolving in stratified disks with typical disk parameters. We identify two crucial energy injection rates that differ in their effects, the corresponding breakout ranging from being gentle to a vigorous one. (a) Superbubbles that break out of the disk with a Mach number of order 2-3 correspond to an energy injection rate of order 10^{-4} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}, which is relevant for disk galaxies with synchrotron emitting gas in the extra-planar regions. (b) A larger energy injection threshold, of order 10^{-3} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}, or equivalently, a star formation surface density of \sim 0.1 solar mass yr^{-1} kpc^{-2}, corresponds to superbubbles with a Mach number \sim 5-10. While the milder superbubbles can be produced by large OB associations, the latter kind requires super-starclusters. These derived conditions compare well with observations of disk galaxies with winds and the existence of multiphase halo gas. Furthermore, we find that contrary to the general belief that superbubbles fragment through Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability when they reach a vertical height of order the scale height, the superbubbles are first affected by thermal instability for typical disk parameters and that RT instability takes over when the shells reach a distance of approximately twice the scale height.

Are small-scale substructures a universal property of galaxy haloes? The case of the giant elliptical NGC 5128★

We present an analysis of the spatial and chemical substructures in a remote halo field in the nearby giant elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128), situated ∼38 kpc from the centre of the galaxy. The observations were taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys instrument onboard the Hubble Space Telescope, and reach down to the horizontal branch. In this relatively small 3.8 x 3.8 kpc 2 field, after correcting for Poisson noise, we do not find any statistically strong evidence for the presence of small-scale substructures in the stellar spatial distribution on scales ≳ 100 pc. However, we do detect the presence of significant small spatial-scale inhomogeneities in the stellar median metallicity over the surveyed field. We argue that these localized chemical substructures could be associated with not fully mixed debris from the disruption of low-mass systems. NGC 5128 joins the ranks of the late-type spiral galaxies the Milky Way, for which the stellar halo appears to be dominated by small-scale spatial substructures, and NGC 891, where localized metallicity variations have been detected in the inner extraplanar regions. This suggests that the presence of small-scale substructures may be a generic property of stellar haloes of large galaxies.

SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED: THE DISRUPTED DISK OF THE STARBURST GALAXY NGC 253

Near-infrared images obtained with the CFHT WIRCam are used to investigate the recent history of the nearby Sculptor Group spiral NGC 253. The distribution of stars in the disk is lop-sided, in the sense that the projected density of AGB stars in the north east portion of the disk between 10 and 20 kpc from the galaxy center is ~ 0.5 dex higher than on the opposite side of the galaxy. With the exception of the central 2 kpc, the north east portion of the disk appears to have been the site of the highest levels of star-forming activity in the galaxy during the past ~ 0.1 Gyr. Diffuse stellar structures are found in the periphery of the disk, and the most prominent of these is to the south and east of the galaxy. Bright AGB stars are detected out to 15 kpc above the disk plane, and these are part of a diffusely distributed, flattened extraplanar component. Comparisons between observed and model luminosity functions suggest that the extraplanar regions contain stars that formed throughout much of the age of the Universe. It is suggested that the disk of NGC 253 was disrupted by a tidal encounter with a now defunct companion. The ages of the youngest extraplanar stars suggests that the event that produced the extraplanar population, and presumably induced the starburst, occured within the past ~ 0.2 Gyr.

Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4438

Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM is studied in the perturbed Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4438. This galaxy underwent a tidal interaction <i>∼<i/>100 Myr ago and is now strongly affected by ram pressure stripping. Deep VLA radio continuum observations at 6 and 20 cm are presented. We detect prominent extraplanar emission to the west of the galactic center, which extends twice as far as the other tracers of extraplanar material. The spectral index of the extraplanar emission does not steepen with increasing distance from the galaxy. This implies in situ re-acceleration of relativistic electrons. The comparison with multiwavelength observations shows that the magnetic field and the warm ionized interstellar medium traced by H<i>α<i/> emission are closely linked. The kinematics of the northern extraplanar H<i>α<i/> emission, which is ascribed to star formation, follow those of the extraplanar CO emission. In the western and southern extraplanar regions, the H<i>α<i/> measured velocities are greater than those of the CO lines. We suggest that the ionized gas of this region is excited by ram pressure. The spatial and velocity offsets are consistent with a scenario where the diffuse ionized gas is more efficiently pushed by ram pressure stripping than the neutral gas. We suggest that the recently found radio-deficient regions compared to 24 <i>μ<i/>m emission are due to this difference in stripping efficiency.

AND THE REST: THE STELLAR ARCHEOLOGICAL RECORD OF M82 OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL STARBURST

Deep images obtained with MegaCam and WIRCam on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope are used to probe the stellar content outside of the central star-forming regions of M82. Stars evolving on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) are traced along the major axis out to projected distances of 12 kpc, which corresponds to 13 disk scale lengths. The numbers of red supergiants (RSGs) and AGB stars normalized to local surface brightness (the specific frequency or SF) is constant when R GC > 4 kpc, indicating that RSGs and AGB stars are well mixed throughout the disk. Moreover, the SF of bright AGB stars in the outer disks of M82 and the Sc galaxy NGC 2403 are identical, suggesting that the specific star-formation rates (SFRs) in these galaxies during intermediate epochs were similar. This similarity in stellar content, coupled with the presence of an extended stellar disk, is consistent with M82 having been a late-type disk galaxy prior to interacting with M81. Still, there is a paucity of RSGs in the outer disk of M82 when compared with NGC 2403, indicating that the SFR in the outer regions of M82 during the past ~0.1 Gyr has declined dramatically with respect to that in isolated late-type galaxies. The stellar content of the M82 disk plane is also investigated. A mixture of bright main-sequence stars, RSGs, and AGB stars is detected out to minor-axis distances of 7 kpc. These stars, which span a range of ages, are concentrated along the outflow. The brightest extraplanar AGB stars define a system with an exponential scale height of 1.8 ± 0.2 kpc, as measured along the minor axis. It is suggested that the young- and intermediate-aged stars in the extraplanar regions formed in structures similar to M82 South, and that these were subsequently disrupted by the tidal action of M82.

An Arc of Young Stars in the Halo of M82

The properties of the brightest resolved stars in an arc that was originally identified by Sun et al. and is located in the extraplanar regions of M82 are discussed. The stars form an elongated structure that is traced over a projected area of 3.0 × 0.8 kpc2. The integrated brightness is MV ~ − 11, while the total stellar mass is between 3 × 105 and 2 × 106 M☉. If there is only foreground extinction then the youngest stars have a metallicity Z ≥ 0.008 and an age log(tyr) ~ 7.75; thus, the youngest stars formed at roughly the same time as stars in tidal features that are associated with other M81 Group galaxies. If the arc disperses then it will deposit young, chemically enriched stars into the M82 halo.

The Disk and Extraplanar Regions of NGC 2403

Wide-field images obtained with WIRCam and MegaCam on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope are used to probe the spatial distribution of young stars in the Sc galaxy NGC 2403. Bright main-sequence stars and blue supergiants are detected out to projected galactocentric distances of ~14 kpc (~7 disk scale lengths), as measured along the major axis. The star formation rate (SFR) in the disk of NGC 2403 during the past 10 Myr has been 1 M☉ yr-1 based on the number of bright main-sequence stars. The radially averaged number density of red supergiants (RSGs) per unit r-band surface brightness is constant throughout the disk, indicating that (1) RSGs follow the integrated r-band light, and (2) the SFR per unit mass has been constant with radius when averaged over timescales of a few tens of millions of years. The mean color of RSGs varies with galactocentric distance, suggesting that there is a metallicity gradient among recently formed stars. A comparison of the radially averaged number density of bright main-sequence stars also indicates that the SFR per unit stellar mass in NGC 2403 has been ~3 times higher than in NGC 247 during recent epochs, and this is in rough agreement with what would be predicted from the far-infrared fluxes of these galaxies. Finally, the data are used to investigate the extraplanar regions of NGC 2403. A population of M giants with peak brightness MK = -8 is detected at projected distances between 12 and 14 kpc above the disk plane, and six new globular cluster candidates are identified.

The Disk and Extraplanar Regions of NGC 55

The stellar content of the nearby SB(s)m galaxy NGC 55 is investigated using images obtained with the Gemini South and Canada-France-Hawaii telescopes. The (K, H - K) and (K, J - K) color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of stars near the plane of the disk reveal signatures of large-scale star formation during recent and intermediate epochs in the form of red supergiants (RSGs) with MK = -11.5, and an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) that peaks near MK = -10. Comparisons with stellar evolution models suggest that the brightest RSGs have an age near 8 Myr. A well-defined plume, which stellar evolution models suggest contains stars with masses near the RSG-AGB transition, is detected in CMDs constructed both from infrared and visible wavelength observations. It is concluded that star formation in the thin disk of NGC 55 has occurred at a significant rate for at least the past 0.1-0.2 Gyr, and this is consistent with other indicators. The near-infrared spectral energy distribution of the integrated light near the center of the galaxy is consistent with that in other Magellanic irregular galaxies, indicating that the star-forming history of NGC 55, when averaged over timescales of 0.1-1 Gyr, has likely not been peculiar when compared with other late-type systems. Evidence is also presented that the disk contains a large population of old [log(tyr) ~ 10] stars, and it is argued that a stable disk has been in place in NGC 55 for a significant fraction of the age of the universe. At projected distances in excess of 2 kpc off of the disk plane, the brightest AGB stars have ages 10 Gyr. Thus, despite indications that dust and gas are present in the envelope surrounding the NGC 55 disk, the AGB content suggests that recently formed stars do not occur in large numbers in the extraplanar region. The (r' - i') colors of the RGB in the extraplanar region are consistent with [Fe/H] between -2.2 and -0.7, with the majority of stars having [Fe/H] > -1.2, and the mean metallicity inferred from the RGB color does not change with distance above the disk plane. Thus, the stellar component in the extraplanar envelope is well mixed, at least in terms of metallicity. The mean metallicity of RGB stars is in excellent agreement with that measured in the extraplanar H II regions EHR 1 and 2, suggesting that the age-metallicity relation in this part of NGC 55 has been flat for at least a few Gyr. Finally, the RGB tip occurs near i' = 23.1 in the extraplanar region, and a distance modulus of 26.5 is computed from this feature.