Herschel-ATLAS: A Binary HyLIRG Pinpointing a Cluster of Starbursting Protoellipticals
- Creators
- Ivison, R. J.
- Vieira, J.
Abstract
Panchromatic observations of the best candidate hyperluminous infrared galaxies from the widest Herschel extragalactic imaging survey have led to the discovery of at least four intrinsically luminous z = 2.41 galaxies across an 100 kpc region—a cluster of starbursting protoellipticals. Via subarcsecond interferometric imaging we have measured accurate gas and star formation surface densities. The two brightest galaxies span ~3 kpc FWHM in submillimeter/radio continuum and CO J = 4-3, and double that in CO J = 1-0. The broad CO line is due partly to the multitude of constituent galaxies and partly to large rotational velocities in two counter-rotating gas disks—a scenario predicted to lead to the most intense starbursts, which will therefore come in pairs. The disks have M_(dyn) of several × 10^(11) M ☉, and gas fractions of ~40%. Velocity dispersions are modest so the disks are unstable, potentially on scales commensurate with their radii: these galaxies are undergoing extreme bursts of star formation, not confined to their nuclei, at close to the Eddington limit. Their specific star formation rates place them 5 × above the main sequence, which supposedly comprises large gas disks like these. Their high star formation efficiencies are difficult to reconcile with a simple volumetric star formation law. N-body and dark matter simulations suggest that this system is the progenitor of a B(inary)-type 10^(14.6)-M ☉ cluster.
Additional Information
© 2013 The American Astronomical Society. Received 2013 February 12; accepted 2013 June 11; published 2013 July 17. R.J.I. acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC) in the form of Advanced Grant, cosmicism. The Herschel-ATLAS is a project with Herschel, which is an ESA Space Observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA. The H-ATLAS Web site is www.h-atlas.org. US participants in H-ATLAS acknowledge support from NASA through a contract from JPL. I.R.S. acknowledges support from STFC and ERC. M.N. and G.dZ. acknowledge financial support from ASI/INAF Agreement I/072/09/0. Facilities: CARMA, CSO, Herschel, HST, IRAM: Interferometer, VLA, Keck:II, SMA, Spitzer, ESO: VISTAAttached Files
Published - 0004-637X_772_2_137.pdf
Submitted - 1302.4436v2.pdf
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Additional details
- Alternative title
- Herschel-ATLAS: a binary HyLIRG pinpointing a cluster of starbursting proto-ellipticals
- Eprint ID
- 40968
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20130828-091925316
- European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant Cosmicism
- NASA/JPL
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- European Research Council (ERC)
- I/072/09/0
- ASI/INAF
- Created
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2013-08-30Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field