arXiv subjects

R. Neri

Publications and source records attributed to R. Neri.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Searching for high-z DSFGs with NIKA2 and NOEMA

As the possible progenitors of passive galaxies at z=2-3, dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) at z>4 provide a unique perspective to study the formation, assembly, and early quenching of massive galaxies in the early Universe. The extreme obscuration in optical-IR makes (sub)mm spectral scans the most universal and unbiased way to confirm/exclude the high-z nature of candidate dusty star-forming galaxies. We present here the status of the NIKA2 Cosmological Legacy Survey (N2CLS), which is the deepest wide-area single-dish survey in the millimeter searching for high-z DSFGs. We also introduce a joint-analysis method to efficiently search for the spectroscopic redshift of high-z DSFGs with noisy spectra and photometric data and present its success in identifying the redshift of DSFGs found in NIKA2 science verification data.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Rotation Curves in z~1-2 Star-Forming Disks: Comparison of Dark Matter Fractions and Disk Properties for Different Fitting Methods

We present a follow-up analysis examining the dynamics and structures of 41 massive, large star-forming galaxies at z~0.67-2.45 using both ionized and molecular gas kinematics. We fit the galaxy dynamics with models consisting of a bulge, a thick, turbulent disk, and a NFW dark matter halo, using code that fully forward models the kinematics, including all observational and instrumental effects. We explore the parameter space using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, including priors based on stellar and gas masses and disk sizes. We fit the full sample using extracted 1D kinematic profiles. For a subset of 14 well-resolved galaxies, we also fit the 2D kinematics. The MCMC approach robustly confirms the results from least-squares fitting presented in Paper I (Genzel et al. 2020): the sample galaxies tend to be baryon-rich on galactic scales (within one effective radius). The 1D and 2D MCMC results are also in good agreement for the subset, demonstrating that much of the galaxy dynamical information is captured along the major axis. The 2D kinematics are more affected by the presence of non-circular motions, which we illustrate by constructing a toy model with constant inflow for one galaxy that exhibits residual signatures consistent with radial motions. This analysis, together with results from Paper I and other studies, strengthens the finding that massive, star-forming galaxies at z~1-2 are baryon-dominated on galactic scales, with lower dark matter fractions towards higher baryonic surface densities. Finally, we present details of the kinematic fitting code used in this analysis.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

The SVS13-A Class I chemical complexity as revealed by S-bearing species. SOLIS XIII

Aims: The goal is to obtain a census of S-bearing species using interferometric images, towards SVS13-A, a Class I object associated with a hot corino rich in interstellar complex organic molecules. Methods: We used data at 3mm and 1.4mm obtained with IRAM-NOEMA in the framework of the Large Program SOLIS. Results: We imaged the spatial distribution of the line emission of 32SO, 34SO, C32}S, C34S, C33S, OCS, H2C32S, H2C34S, and NS. The low excitation (9 K) 32SO line is tracing the fast collimated jet driven by the nearby SVS13-B. Conversely, the rest of the lines are confined in the inner SVS13-A region, where complex organics have been previously imaged. The non-LTE LVG analysis of SO, SO2, and H2CS indicates a hot corino origin (60-120 au). Temperatures between 50 K and 300 K, and volume densities larger than 10^5 cm-3 have been derived. The abundances are in the following ranges: 0.3-6 10^-6 (CS), 7 10^-9} - 1 10^-7 (SO), 1-10 10^-7 (SO2), a few 10^-10 (H2CS and OCS), and 10^{-10} - 10^{-9}(NS). The N(NS)/N(NS^+) ratio is larger than 10, supporting that the NS^+ ion is mainly formed in the extended envelope. Conclusions: The [H2CS]/[H2CO] ratio increases with time (from Class 0 to Class II objects) by more than one order of magnitude. This suggests that [S]/[O] changes along the Sun-like star forming process. The estimate of the [S]/[H] budget in SVS13-A is 2%-17% of the Solar System value (1.8 10^-5), being consistent with what was previously measured towards Class 0 objects (1%-8%). This supports that the enrichment of the sulphuretted species with respect to dark clouds keeps constant from the Class 0 to the Class I stages of low-mass star formation. The present findings stress the importance of investigating the chemistry of star forming regions using large observational surveys as well as sampling regions on a Solar System scale.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Seed of Life in Space (SOLIS) XI. First measurement of nitrogen fractionation in shocked clumps of the L1157 protostellar outflow

The isotopic ratio of nitrogen presents a wide range of values in the Solar System and in star forming system whose origin is still unclear. Chemical reactions in the gas phase are one of the possible processes that could modify the $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio. We aim at investigating if and how the passage of a shock wave in the interstellar medium, can affect the relative fraction of nitrogen isotopes. The ideal place for such a study is the L1157 outflow, where several shocked clumps are present. We present the first measurement of the $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N ratio in the two shocked clumps, B1 and B0, of the protostellar outflow L1157, derived from the interferomteric maps of the H$^{13}$CN(1-0) and the HC$^{15}$N(1-0) lines. In B1, we find that the H$^{13}$CN(1-0) and HC$^{15}$N(1-0) emission traces the front of the clump, with averaged column density of $N$(H$^{13}$CN) $\sim$ 7$\times$10$^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$ and $N$(HC$^{15}$N) $\sim$ 2$\times$10$^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$. In this region the ratio H$^{13}$CN(1-0)/HC$^{15}$N(1-0) is quite uniform with an average value of $\sim$ 5$\pm$1. The same average value is also measured in the smaller clump B0e. Assuming the standard $^{12}$C/$^{13}$C = 68, we obtain $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N = 340$\pm$70, similar to those usually found in prestellar cores and protostars. We analysed the prediction of a chemical shock model for several shock conditions and we found that the nitrogen and carbon fractionations do not vary much for the first period after the shock. The observed H$^{13}$CN/HC$^{15}$N can be reproduced by a non-dissociative, C-type shock with parameters in agreement with previous modelling of L1157-B1. Both observations and chemical models indicate that the shock propagation does not affect the nitrogen isotopic ratio that remains similar to that measured in lower temperature gas in prestellar cores and in protostellar envelopes.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Close-up view of a luminous star-forming galaxy at z=2.95

(Abridged) Exploiting the sensitivity and broad band width of NOEMA, we have studied the molecular gas and dust in the galaxy HerBS-89a, at z=2.95. High angular resolution images reveal a partial 1.0" diameter Einstein ring in the dust continuum emission and the molecular emission lines of 12CO(9-8) and H2O(2_02-1_11). We report the detection of the three fundamental transitions of the molecular ion OH+, seen in absorption; the molecular ion CH+(1-0) seen in absorption (and tentatively in emission); two transitions of amidogen (NH2), seen in emission; and HCN(11-10) and/or NH(1_2-0_1) seen in absorption. The NOEMA data are complemented with VLA data tracing the 12CO(1-0) emission line, which provides a measurement of the total mass of molecular gas and an anchor for a CO excitation analysis. In addition, we present HST imaging that reveals the foreground lensing galaxy in the near-infrared. Together with data from the GTC, we derive a photometric redshift of z(phot)~0.9 for the foreground lensing galaxy. Modelling the lensing of HerBS-89a, we reconstruct the dust continuum and molecular emission lines (magnified by a factor ~4-5) in the source plane. The 12CO(9-8) and H2O emission lines have comparable spatial and kinematic distributions; the source-plane reconstructions do not clearly distinguish between a one-component and a two-component scenario, but the latter accounts for the observed broad line widths. HerBS-89a is a powerful star forming galaxy with a dust-to-gas ratio delta(GDR)~80, a SFR = 614 +/- 59 Msun/yr and a depletion timescale tau(depl) = (3.4 +/- 1.0) 1e8 years. The OH+ and CH+ absorption lines, all have their main velocity component red-shifted by Δ(V)~100 km/s relative to the global CO reservoir. We argue that these absorption lines trace a rare example of gas inflow towards the center of the galaxy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Rotation Curves in z~1-2 Star-Forming Disks: Evidence for Cored Dark Matter Distributions

We report high quality, Halpha or CO rotation curves (RCs) to several Re for 41 large, massive, star-forming disk galaxies (SFGs), across the peak of cosmic galaxy evolution (z~0.67-2.45), taken with the ESO-VLT, the LBT and IRAM-NOEMA. Most RC41 SFGs have reflection symmetric RCs plausibly described by equilibrium dynamics. We fit the major axis position-velocity cuts with beam-convolved, forward modeling with a bulge, a turbulent rotating disk, and a dark matter (DM) halo. We include priors for stellar and molecular gas masses, optical light effective radii and inclinations, and DM masses from abundance matching scaling relations. Two-thirds or more of the z>1.2 SFGs are baryon dominated within a few Re of typically 5.5 kpc, and have DM fractions less than maximal disks ( =0.12). At lower redshift (z<1.2) that fraction is less than one-third. DM fractions correlate inversely with the baryonic angular momentum parameter, baryonic surface density and bulge mass. Inferred low DM fractions cannot apply to the entire disk & halo but more plausibly reflect a flattened, or cored, inner DM density distribution. The typical central 'DM deficit' in these cores relative to NFW distributions is ~30% of the bulge mass. The observations are consistent with rapid radial transport of baryons in the first generation massive gas rich halos forming globally gravitationally unstable disks, and leading to efficient build-up of massive bulges and central black holes. A combination of heating due to dynamical friction and AGN feedback may drive DM out of the initial cusps.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS). X. Interstellar Complex Organic Molecules in the NGC 1333 IRAS 4A outflows

Aims: A unique environment to study how interstellar Complex Organic Molecules (iCOMs) can be formed is the shocked gas along low-mass protostellar outflows, as the dust mantles composition is sputtered into the gas phase. The chemical richness in these environments has been so far studied only in the L1157 blue shifted outflow. Methods: To understand if the L1157-B1 case is unique, we imaged the NGC 1333 IRAS 4A outflows using the NOEMA (NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array) interferometer as part of the IRAM SOLIS (Seeds Of Life in Space) Large Program and compared the observations with the GRAINOBLE+ gas phase astrochemical model. Results: Several iCOMs were detected in the IRAS 4A outflows: methanol (CH$_3$OH), acetaldehyde (CH$_3$CHO), formamide (NH$_2$CHO) and dimethyl ether (CH$_3$OCH$_3$), all sampling upper excitation energy up to $\sim$30 K. We found a significant chemical differentiation between the IRAS 4A1 outflow, showing a richer molecular content, and the IRAS 4A2 one. The CH$_3$OH/CH$_3$CHO abundance ratio is lower by a factor $\sim$4 in the former; furthermore the ratio in both outflows is lower by a factor $\sim$10 with respect to hot corinos values. Conclusions: After L1157-B1, IRAS 4A outflow is now the second outflow to show an evident chemical complexity. Given that CH$_3$OH is a grain surface species, GRAINOBLE+ reproduced our observations assuming acetaldehyde formation in gas phase by the reaction of ethyl radical (CH$_3$CH$_2$) with atomic oxygen. Moreover, the chemical differentiation between the two outflows suggests that the IRAS 4A1 outflow is likely younger than the IRAS 4A2 one. Further investigation is needed to constrain the age of the outflow and observations of even younger shocks are necessary and future spectroscopic studies on CH$_3$CH$_2$ are needed to be able to observe this species and provide strong constraints on the CH$_3$CHO formation.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) VIII. SiO isotopic fractionation and a new insight in the shocks of L1157-B1

L1157-B1 is one of the outflow shocked regions along the blue-shifted outflow driven by the Class 0 protostar L1157-mm, and is an ideal laboratory to study the material ejected from the grains in very short timescales, i.e. its chemical composition is representative of the composition of the grains. We imaged $^{28}$SiO, $^{29}$SiO and $^{30}$SiO J = 2-1 emission towards L1157-B1 and B0 with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer as part of the Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) large project. We present here a study of the isotopic fractionation of SiO towards L1157-B1. Furthermore, we use the high spectral resolution observations on the main isotopologue, $^{28}$SiO, to study the jet impact on the dense gas. We present here also single-dish observations obtained with the IRAM 30m telescope and Herschel-HIFI. We carried out a non-LTE analysis using a Large Velocity Gradient (LVG) code to model the single-dish observations. From our observations we can show that (i) the (2-1) transition of the main isotopologue is optically thick in L1157-B1 even at high velocities, and (ii) the [$^{29}$SiO/$^{30}$SiO] ratio is constant across the source, and consistent with the solar value of 1.5. We report the first isotopic fractionation maps of SiO in a shocked region and show the absence of a mass dependent fractionation in $^{29}$Si and $^{30}$Si across L1157-B1. A high-velocity bullet in $^{28}$SiO has been identified, showing the signature of a jet impacting on the dense gas. With the dataset presented in this paper, both interferometric and single-dish, we were able to study in great detail the gas shocked at the B1a position and its surrounding gas.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Seeds of Life in Space SOLIS. IX. Chemical segregation of $\rm SO_2$ and SO toward the low-mass protostellar shocked region of L1157

We present observations of SO and $\rm SO_2$ lines toward the shocked regions along the L1157 chemically rich outflow, taken in the context of the Seeds Of Life In Space IRAM-NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array Large Program, and supported by data from Submillimeter Array and IRAM-30 m telescope at 1.1--3.6 mm wavelengths. We simultaneously analyze, for the first time, all of the brightest shocks in the blueshifted lobe, namely, B0, B1, and B2. We found the following. (1) SO and $\rm SO_2$ may trace different gas, given that the large(-scale) velocity gradient analysis indicates for $\rm SO_2$ a volume density ($\rm 10^5\text{--}10^6\,cm^{-3}$) denser than that of the gas emitting in SO by a factor up to an order of magnitude. (2) Investigating the 0.1 pc scale field of view, we note a tentative gradient along the path of the precessing jet. More specifically, $\rm χ({SO/SO_2})$ decreases from the B0-B1 shocks to the older B2. (3) At a linear resolution of 500--1400 au, a tentative spatial displacement between the two emitting molecules is detected, with the SO peak closer (with respect to $\rm SO_2$) to the position where the recent jet is impinging on the B1 cavity wall. Our astrochemical modeling shows that the SO and $\rm SO_2$ abundances evolve on timescales less than about 1000 years. Furthermore, the modeling requires high abundances ($2\times10^{-6}$) of both $\rm H_2S/H$ and S/H injected in the gas phase due to the shock occurrence, so pre-frozen OCS only is not enough to reproduce our new observations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS).VII. Discovery of a cold dense methanol blob toward the L1521F VeLLO system

The SOLIS (Seeds Of Life In Space) IRAM/NOEMA Large Program aims at studying a set of crucial complex organic molecules in a sample of sources, with well-known physical structure, covering the various phases of Solar-type star formation. One representative object of the transition from the prestellar core to the protostar phases has been observed toward the Very Low Luminosity Object (VeLLO) called L1521F. This type of source is important to study to make the link between prestellar cores and Class 0 sources and also to constrain the chemical evolution during the process of star formation. Two frequency windows (81.6-82.6 GHz and 96.65-97.65 GHz) were used to observe the emission from several complex organics toward the L1521F VeLLO. Only 2 transitions of methanol (A+, E2) have been detected in the narrow window centered at 96.7 GHz (with an upper limit on E1) in a very compact emission blob (~7'' corresponding to ~1000au) toward the NE of the L1521F protostar. The CS 2-1 transition is also detected within the WideX bandwidth. Consistently, with what has been found in prestellar cores, the methanol emission appears ~1000au away from the dust peak. The location of the methanol blob coincides with one of the filaments previously reported in the literature. The Tex of the gas inferred from methanol is (10$\pm$2) K, while the H2 gas density (estimated from the detected CS 2-1 emission and previous CS 5-4 ALMA obs.) is a factor >25 higher than the density in the surrounding environment (n(H2) >10$^{7}$ cm$^{-3}$). From its compactness, low excitation temperature and high gas density, we suggest that the methanol emission detected with NOEMA is either a cold and dense shock-induced blob, recently formed ($\leq$ few hundred years) by infalling gas or a cold and dense fragment that may have just been formed as a result of the intense gas dynamics found within the L1521F VeLLO system.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) V. Methanol and acetaldehyde in the protostellar jet-driven shocks L1157-B0 and B1

Aim: In the past, observations of protostellar shocks have been able to set constraints on the formation route of formamide (NH2CHO), exploiting its observed spatial distribution and comparison with astrochemical model predictions. In this work, we follow the same strategy to study the case of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO). Method: To this end, we used the data obtained with the IRAM-NOEMA interferometer in the framework of the Large Program SOLIS to image the B0 and B1 shocks along the L1157 blueshifted outflow in methanol (CH3OH) and acetaldehyde line emission. Results: We imaged six CH3OH and eight CH3CHO lines which cover upper level energies up to 30 K. Both species trace the B0 molecular cavity as well as the northern B1 portion, i.e. the regions where the youngest shocks (1000 yr) occurred. The CH$_3$OH and CH$_3$CHO emission peaks towards the B1b clump, where we measured the following column densities and relative abundances: 1.3 x 10^16 cm-2 and 6.5 x 10-6 (methanol), and 7 x 10^13 cm-2 and 3.5 x 10-8 (acetaldehyde). We carried out a non-LTE LVG analysis of the observed CH3OH line: the average kinetic temperature and density of the emitting gas are Tkin = 90 K and nH2 = 4 x 10^5 cm-3, respectively. The CH3OH and CH3CHO abundance ratio towards B1b is 190, varying by less than a factor 3 throughout the whole B0-B1 structure. Conclusions: The comparison of astrochemical model predictions with the observed methanol and acetaldehyde spatial distribution does not allow to distinguish whether acetaldehyde is formed on the grain mantles or rather on the gas-phase, as its gas-phase formation, dominated by the reaction of ethyl radical (CH3CH2) with atomic oxygen, is very fast. Observations of acetaldehyde in younger shocks, e.g. 10^2 yr old, or/and of the ethyl radical, whose frequencies are not presently available, are necessary to settle the issue.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

NOEMA redshift measurements of bright Herschel galaxies

Using the IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA), we conducted a program to measure redshifts for 13 bright galaxies detected in the Herschel Astrophysical Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS) with $S_{500μ\rm m}\ge$80 mJy. We report reliable spectroscopic redshifts for 12 individual sources, which are derived from scans of the 3 and 2 mm bands, covering up to 31 GHz in each band, and are based on the detection of at least two emission lines. The spectroscopic redshifts are in the range $2.08 10^{13}\,L_\odot$ galaxies. We also present a reanalysis of the spectral energy distributions including the continuum flux densities measured at 3 and 2 mm to derive the overall properties of the sources. Future prospects based on these efficient measurements of redshifts of high-z galaxies using NOEMA are outlined, including a comprehensive survey of all the brightest Herschel galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Constraints on high-J CO emission lines in $z\sim 6$ quasars

We present Atacama Large Millimiter/submillimiter Array (ALMA) observations of eight highly excited CO (J$_{\rm up}>8$) lines and continuum emission in two $z\sim6$ quasars: SDSS J231038.88+185519.7 (hereafter J2310), for which CO(8-7), CO(9-8), and CO(17-16) lines have been observed, and ULAS J131911.29+095951.4 (J1319), observed in the CO(14-13), CO(17-16) and CO(19-18) lines. The continuum emission of both quasars arises from a compact region ($< 0.9$ kpc). By assuming a modified black-body law, we estimate dust masses of Log$(M_{\rm dust}/M_{\odot})=8.75\pm0.07$ and Log$(M_{\rm dust}/M_{\odot})=8.8\pm0.2$ and dust temperatures of $T_{\rm dust}=76\pm3~{\rm K}$ and $T_{\rm dust}=66^{+15}_{-10}~{\rm K}$, respectively for J2310 and J1319. Only CO(8-7) and CO(9-8) in J2310 are detected, while $3σ$ upper limits on luminosities are reported for the other lines of both quasars. The CO line luminosities and upper limits measured in J2310 and J1319 are consistent with those observed in local AGN and starburst galaxies, and other $z\sim 6$ quasars, except for SDSS J1148+5251 (J1148), the only quasar at $z=6.4$ with a previous CO(17-16) line detection. By computing the CO SLEDs normalised to the CO(6-5) line and FIR luminosities for J2310, J1319, and J1149, we conclude that different gas heating mechanisms (X-ray radiation and/or shocks) may explain the different CO luminosities observed in these $z\sim6$ quasar. Future J$_{\rm up}>8$ CO observations will be crucial to understand the processes responsible for molecular gas excitation in luminous high-$z$ quasars.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

ALMA images the many faces of the NGC1068 torus and its surroundings

We investigate the fueling and the feedback of nuclear activity in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC1068, by studying the distribution and kinematics of molecular gas in the torus and its connections. We use ALMA to image the emission of a set of molecular gas tracers in the circumnuclear disk (CND) and the torus of the galaxy using the CO(2-1), CO(3-2) and HCO+(4-3) lines with spatial resolutions ~0.03"-0.09"(2-6pc). ALMA resolves the CND as an asymmetric ringed disk of D~400pc-size and mass of ~1.4x10^8 Msun. The inner edge of the ring is associated with edge-brightened arcs of NIR polarized emission identified with the working surface of the AGN ionized wind. ALMA proves the existence of a molecular torus of M_torus ~ 3x10^5Msun, which extends over a large range of spatial scales D=10-30pc around the central engine. The new observations evidence the density radial stratification of the torus: the HCO+(4-3) torus, with a full size D=11pc, is a factor of 2-3 smaller than its CO(2-1) and CO(3-2) counterparts, which have full-sizes D=26pc and D=28pc, respectively. The torus is connected to the CND through a network of gas streamers. The kinematics of molecular gas show strong departures from circular motions in the torus, the gas streamers, and the CND. These velocity distortions are interconnected and are part of a 3D outflow that reflects the effects of AGN feedback on the kinematics of molecular gas across a wide range of spatial scales. We conclude that a wide-angle AGN wind launched from the accretion disk is impacting a sizeable fraction of the gas inside the torus (~0.4-0.6 x M_torus). However, a large gas reservoir (~1.2-1.8 x 10^5Msun) close to the equatorial plane of the torus remains unaffected by the AGN wind and can continue fueling the AGN for ~1-4Myr. AGN fueling seems nevertheless thwarted on intermediate scales (15pc < r < 50pc).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

CO, H2O, H2O+ line and dust emission in a z = 3.63 strongly lensed starburst merger at sub-kiloparsec scales

Using ALMA, we report high angular-resolution observations of the redshift z=3.63 galaxy, G09v1.97, one of the most luminous strongly lensed galaxies discovered by the H-ATLAS survey. We present 0"2-0"4 resolution images of the rest-frame 188 and 419$μ$m dust continuum and the CO(6-5), H2O(211-202) and J=2 H2O+ line emission. We also report the detection of H$_2^{18}$O in this source. The dust continuum and molecular gas emission are resolved into a nearly complete ~1"5 diameter Einstein ring plus a weaker image in the center, which is caused by a special dual deflector lensing configuration. The observed line profiles of the CO, H2O and H2O+ lines are strikingly similar. In the source plane, we reconstruct the dust continuum images and the spectral cubes of the line emission at sub-kpc scales. The reconstructed dust emission in the source plane is dominated by a compact disk with an effective radius of 0.7kpc plus an overlapping extended disk with a radius twice as large. While the average magnification for the dust continuum is $μ$~10-11, the magnification of the line emission varies 5 to 22 across different velocity components. The emission lines have similar spatial and kinematic distributions. The molecular gas and dust content reveal that G09v1.97 is a gas-rich major merger in its pre-coalescence phase. Both of the merging companions are intrinsically ULIRGs with LIR reaching $\gtrsim 4\times10^{12}L_\odot$, and the total LIR of G09v1.97 is $1.4\times10^{13}L_\odot$. The approaching southern galaxy shows no obvious kinematic structure with a semi-major half-light radius a_s=0.4kpc, while the receding galaxy resembles an a_s=1.2kpc rotating disk. The two galaxies are separated by a projected distance of 1.3kpc, bridged by weak line emission that is co-spatially located with the cold-dust-emission peak, suggesting a large amount of cold ISM in the interacting region. (abridged)

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

PHIBSS2: survey design and z=0.5-0.8 results. Molecular gas reservoirs during the winding-down of star formation

Following the success of the Plateau de Bure high-z Blue Sequence Survey (PHIBSS), we present the PHIBSS2 legacy program, a survey of the molecular gas properties of star-forming galaxies on and around the star formation main sequence (MS) at different redshifts using NOEMA. This survey significantly extends the existing sample of star-forming galaxies with CO molecular gas measurements, probing the peak epoch of star formation (z=1-1.6) as well as its building-up (z=2-3) and winding-down (z=0.5-0.8) phases. The targets are drawn from the GOODS, COSMOS, and AEGIS deep fields and uniformly sample the MS in the stellar mass (M*) - star formation rate (SFR) plane with log(M*/Msun) = 10-11.8. We describe the survey strategy and sample selection before focusing on the results obtained at z=0.5-0.8, where we report 60 CO(2-1) detections out of 61 targets. We determine their molecular gas masses and separately obtain disc sizes and bulge-to-total (B/T) luminosity ratios from HST I-band images. The median molecular gas-to-stellar mass ratio, gas fraction, and depletion time as well as their dependence with M* and offset from the MS follow published scaling relations for a much larger sample of galaxies spanning a wider range of redshifts. The galaxy-averaged Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relation between molecular gas and SFR surface densities is strikingly linear, pointing towards similar star formation timescales within galaxies at any given epoch. In terms of morphology, the molecular gas content, the SFR, the disc stellar mass, and the disc molecular gas fraction do not seem to correlate with B/T and the stellar surface density, which suggests an ongoing supply of fresh molecular gas to compensate for the build-up of the bulge. Our measurements do not yield any significant variation of the depletion time with B/T and hence no strong evidence for morphological quenching within the scatter of the MS.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

SOLIS IV. Hydrocarbons in the OMC-2 FIR 4 region, a probe of energetic particle irradiation of the region

We report new interferometric images of cyclopropenylidene, c-C$_3$H$_2$, towards the young protocluster OMC-2 FIR\,4. The observations were performed at 82 and 85 GHz with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) as part of the project Seeds Of Life In Space (SOLIS). In addition, IRAM-30m data observations were used to investigate the physical structure of OMC-2 FIR\,4. We find that the c-C$_3$H$_2$ gas emits from the same region where previous SOLIS observations showed bright HC$_5$N emission. From a non-LTE analysis of the IRAM-30m data, the c-C$_3$H$_2$ gas has an average temperature of $\sim$40K, a H$_2$ density of $\sim$3$\times$10$^{5}$~cm$^{-3}$, and a c-C$_3$H$_2$ abundance relative to H$_2$ of ($7\pm1$)$\times$10$^{-12}$. In addition, the NOEMA observations provide no sign of significant c-C$_3$H$_2$ excitation temperature gradients across the region (about 3-4 beams), with T$_{ex}$ in the range 8$\pm$3 up to 16$\pm$7K. We thus infer that our observations are inconsistent with a physical interaction of the OMC-2 FIR\,4 envelope with the outflow arising from OMC-2 FIR\,3, as claimed by previous studies. The comparison of the measured c-C$_3$H$_2$ abundance with the predictions from an astrochemical PDR model indicates that OMC-2 FIR\,4 is irradiated by a FUV field $\sim$1000 times larger than the interstellar one, and by a flux of ionising particles $\sim$4000 times larger than the canonical value of $1\times10^{-17}$~s$^{-1}$ from the Galaxy cosmic rays, which is consistent with our previous HC$_5$N observations. This provides an important and independent confirmation of other studies that one or more sources inside the OMC-2 FIR\,4 region emit energetic ($\geq10$~MeV) particles.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

Radio outburst from a massive (proto)star. When accretion turns into ejection

Context. Recent observations of the massive young stellar object S255 NIRS 3 have revealed a large increase in both methanol maser flux density and IR emission, which have been interpreted as the result of an accretion outburst, possibly due to instabilities in a circumstellar disk. This indicates that this type of accretion event could be common in young/forming early-type stars and in their lower mass siblings, and supports the idea that accretion onto the star may occur in a non-continuous way. Aims. As accretion and ejection are believed to be tightly associated phenomena, we wanted to confirm the accretion interpretation of the outburst in S255 NIRS 3 by detecting the corresponding burst of the associated thermal jet. Methods. We monitored the radio continuum emission from S255 NIRS 3 at four bands using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The millimetre continuum emission was also observed with both the Northern Extended Millimeter Array of IRAM and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Results. We have detected an exponential increase in the radio flux density from 6 to 45 GHz starting right after July 10, 2016, namely about 13 months after the estimated onset of the IR outburst. This is the first ever detection of a radio burst associated with an IR accretion outburst from a young stellar object. The flux density at all observed centimetre bands can be reproduced with a simple expanding jet model. At millimetre wavelengths we infer a marginal flux increase with respect to the literature values and we show this is due to free-free emission from the radio jet. Abridged.

astro-ph.SR↗