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P. Nowaczyk

Publications and source records attributed to P. Nowaczyk.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

The efficient star-forming regions of stripped-envelope supernovae

Massive stars ($> 8~\rm{M}_{\odot}$) play a key role in shaping the interstellar medium of galaxies through stellar feedback. However, how these stars form and evolve before exploding as core-collapse supernovae (SNe) remains elusive. We compute for the first time the star-formation efficiencies (SFEs) at the locations of hydrogen-rich (H-rich) SNe and stripped-envelope SNe (SESNe) to constrain their progenitor properties. We used VLT/MUSE and ALMA observations of H$\alpha$/H$\beta$ and CO(2-1) emission lines to trace the components of the warm ionised gas and cold molecular gas, respectively. Both observations resolve individual H II regions and giant molecular clouds at spatial resolutions on cloud-scales ($\sim$100 pc). This combined data allows us to compute the SFE from the star formation rate (SFR) and the molecular gas mass (M$_{\rm{mol}}$) as SFE = SFR/M$_{\rm{mol}}$. We find that SESNe explode in environments that are currently forming stars eight times more efficiently than those of H-rich SNe (higher SFR for SESNe with similar M$_{\rm{mol}}$). On one hand, this is consistent with the scenario in which the majority of SESNe are produced from very massive stars ($> 20~\rm{M}_{\odot}$) if the initial mass function is top-heavy. On the other hand, most of SESN progenitor channels are formed from interacting binaries ($< 20~\rm{M}_{\odot}$) if an increased binary system formation rate is connected with turbulences and, in turn, with the boost to SFE. Then, an increased binary fraction could explain the enhanced H$\alpha$ luminosities. In summary, SESNe preferentially occur in regions of intense, efficient star formation rather than simply higher gas content.

astro-ph.GA

The ALMA carbon monoxide supernova (ACOS) survey II. Turbulent giant molecular clouds at the positions of core-collapse supernovae

Context. Study of cold molecular hydrogen gas (hereafter molecular gas) provides crucial insights into its interplay with star-forming regions. However, the connection between molecular gas turbulence and the sites of massive star ($> 8~\rm{M}_{\odot}$) explosions as core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) remains unexplored. Aims. We measure for the first time the turbulence of molecular gas in environments of CCSNe, with the aim to constrain the nature of their progenitors. Methods. In order to reach spatial resolutions of giant molecular cloud (GMC) sizes ($\sim 100~\rm{pc}$), we collected ALMA carbon monoxide $J = 2 \rightarrow 1$ spectral line ($\sim 230.54~\rm{GHz}$) observations (as a tracer of molecular gas) at the locations of 33 nearby CCSNe ($< 100~\rm{Mpc}$). Results. We found that CCSNe prefer molecular gas regions with high velocity dispersion compared to the average of their host galaxies. Conclusions. For CCSN progenitors, this observational evidence supports their increased formation in regions of high densities and/or their binary nature.

astro-ph.GA

The Fate of the Interstellar Medium in Early-type Galaxies. V. AGN Feedback from Optical Spectral Classification

Quenching of star-formation plays a fundamental role in galaxy evolution. This process occurs due to the removal of the cold interstellar medium (ISM) or stabilization against collapse, so that gas cannot be used in the formation of new stars. In this paper, we study the effect of different mechanisms of ISM removal. In particular, we revised the well-known Baldwin-Philips-Terlevich (BPT) and $\mathrm{EW_{H\alpha}}$ vs. $\mathrm{[NII]/H\alpha}$ (WHAN) emission-line ratio diagnostics, so that we could classify all galaxies, even those not detected at some emission lines, introducing several new spectral classes. We use spectroscopic data and several physical parameters of 2409 dusty early-type galaxies in order to find out the dominant ionization source [active galactic nuclei (AGNs), young massive stars, hot low-mass evolved stars (HOLMES)] and its effect on the ISM. We find that strong AGNs can play a significant role in the ISM removal process only for galaxies with ages lower than $10^{9.4}$ yr, but we cannot rule out the influence of weak AGNs at any age. For older galaxies, HOLMES/planetary nebulae contribute significantly to the ISM removal process. Additionally, we provide the BPT and WHAN classifications not only for the selected sample but also for all 300000 galaxies in the GAMA fields.

astro-ph.GA