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Stellar feedback in a clumpy galaxy at z ∼3.4

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Chris HarrisonORCiD

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This is the final published version of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Oxford University Press, 2021.

For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.


Abstract

© 2021 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.Giant star-forming regions (clumps) are widespread features of galaxies at z ≈ 1-4. Theory predicts that they can play a crucial role in galaxy evolution, if they survive to stellar feedback for >50 Myr. Numerical simulations show that clumps' survival depends on the stellar feedback recipes that are adopted. Up to date, observational constraints on both clumps' outflows strength and gas removal time-scale are still uncertain. In this context, we study a line-emitting galaxy at redshift z ≤ 3.4 lensed by the foreground galaxy cluster Abell 2895. Four compact clumps with sizes ≤ 280 pc and representative of the low-mass end of clumps' mass distribution (stellar masses ≤ 2 × 108 M⊙) dominate the galaxy morphology. The clumps are likely forming stars in a starbursting mode and have a young stellar population (∼10 Myr). The properties of the Lyman-α (Lyα) emission and nebular far-ultraviolet absorption lines indicate the presence of ejected material with global outflowing velocities of ∼200-300 km s-1. Assuming that the detected outflows are the consequence of star formation feedback, we infer an average mass loading factor (η) for the clumps of ∼1.8-2.4 consistent with results obtained from hydrodynamical simulations of clumpy galaxies that assume relatively strong stellar feedback. Assuming no gas inflows (semiclosed box model), the estimates of η suggest that the time-scale over which the outflows expel the molecular gas reservoir (≤ 7 × 108 M™) of the four detected low-mass clumps is 50 Myr.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Iani E, Zanella A, Vernet J, Richard J, Gronke M, Harrison CM, Arrigoni-Battaia F, Rodighiero G, Burkert A, Behrendt M, Chen C-C, Emsellem E, Fensch J, Hibon P, Hilker M, Le Floc'H E, Mainieri V, Swinbank AM, Valentino F, Vanzella E, Zwaan MA

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Year: 2021

Volume: 507

Issue: 3

Pages: 3830-3848

Print publication date: 01/11/2021

Online publication date: 23/08/2021

Acceptance date: 27/07/2021

Date deposited: 14/08/2024

ISSN (print): 0035-8711

ISSN (electronic): 1365-2966

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab2376

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab2376

Data Access Statement: The data underlying this paper will be shared on a reasonable request to the corresponding author.


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