Extreme Star Formation Reveals a Fleeting Phase of Galactic Evolution
Astronomers have spotted a galaxy that is igniting new stars faster than ever seen before. Measurements from several instruments show that gas in this galaxy is condensing to form stars close to the maximum rate thought possible. Read more
Rare galaxy found furiously burning fuel for stars
Astronomers have found a galaxy turning gas into stars with almost 100 percent efficiency, a rare phase of galaxy evolution that is the most extreme yet observed. The findings come from the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in the French Alps, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Read more
Astronomers have spotted the "greenest" of galaxies, one that converts fuel into stars with almost 100-percent efficiency. The findings come from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in the French Alps. Read more
Title: A redline starburst: CO(2-1) observations of an Eddington-limited galaxy reveal star formation at its most extreme Authors: J. E. Geach (McGill), R. C. Hickox (Dartmouth), A. M. Diamond-Stanic (UCSD), M. Krips (IRAM), J. Moustakas (Siena College), C. A. Tremonti (Wisconsin-Madison), A. L. Coil (UCSD), P. H. Sell (Wisconsin-Madison), G. H. Rudnick (Kansas)
We report observations of the CO(2-1) emission of SDSSJ1506+54, a compact (r_e~135pc) starburst galaxy at z=0.6. SDSSJ1506+54 appears to be forming stars close to the limit allowed by stellar radiation pressure feedback models: the measured L_IR/L'_CO 1500 is one of the highest measured for any galaxy. With its compact optical morphology but extended low surface brightness envelope, post-starburst spectral features, high infrared luminosity (L_IR>10^12.5 L_Sun), low gas fraction (M_H2/M_stars~15%), and short gas depletion time (tens of Myr), we speculate that this is a feedback- limited central starburst episode at the conclusion of a major merger. Taken as such, SDSSJ1504+54 epitomises the brief closing stage of a classic model of galaxy growth: we are witnessing a key component of spheroid formation during what we term a 'redline' starburst.