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The volumetric star formation law in nearby galaxies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2023

C. Bacchini Open the ORCID record for C. Bacchini [Opens in a new window] ,
F. Fraternali ,
G. Pezzulli ,
G. Iorio ,
A. Marasco  and
C. Nipoti
C. Bacchini
Affiliation:
INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, IT-35122, Padova, Italy email: [email protected] Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Landleven 12, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, via Gobetti 93/2, I-40129, Bologna, Italy
F. Fraternali
Affiliation:
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Landleven 12, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
G. Pezzulli
Affiliation:
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Landleven 12, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
G. Iorio
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 3, IT-35122, Padova, Italy
A. Marasco
Affiliation:
INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, IT-35122, Padova, Italy email: [email protected]
C. Nipoti
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, via Gobetti 93/2, I-40129, Bologna, Italy
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Abstract

Star formation laws are empirical relations between the cold gas (HI+H2) content of a galaxy and its star formation rate (SFR), being crucial for any model of galaxy formation and evolution. A well known example of such laws is the Schmidt-Kennicutt law, which is based on the projected surface densities. However, it has been long unclear whether a more fundamental relation exists between the intrinsic volume densities. By assuming the vertical hydrostatic equilibrium, we infer radial profiles for the thickness of gaseous discs in a sample of 23 local galaxies, and use these measurements to convert the observed surface densities of the gas and the SFR into the de-projected volume densities. We find a tight correlation linking these quantities, that we call the volumetric star formation law. This relation and its properties have crucial implications for our understanding of the physics of star formation.

Keywords

Star formation lawsISM structurespiral and dwarf galaxiesMilky Way
Type
Contributed Paper
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 17 , Symposium S373: Resolving the Rise and Fall of Star Formation in Galaxies , August 2021 , pp. 310 - 313
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Astronomical Union

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References

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