期刊
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
卷 650, 期 1, 页码 166-179出版社
IOP Publishing Ltd
DOI: 10.1086/506959
关键词
galaxies : evolution; galaxies : individual (NGC 4647); galaxies : ISM; galaxies : kinematics and dynamics; galaxies : spiral; ISM : molecules
We present matched-resolution maps of H I and CO emission in the Virgo Cluster spiral NGC 4647. The galaxy shows a mild kinematic disturbance in which one side of the rotation curve flattens but the other side continues to rise. This kinematic asymmetry is coupled with a dramatic asymmetry in the molecular gas distribution but not in the atomic gas. An analysis of the gas column densities and the interstellar pressure suggests that the H-2/H I surface density ratio on the east side of the galaxy is 3 times higher than expected from the hydrostatic pressure contributed by the mass of the stellar disk. We discuss the probable effects of ram pressure, gravitational interactions, and asymmetric potentials on the interstellar medium and suggest it is likely that a m 1 perturbation in the gravitational potential could be responsible for all of the galaxy's features. Kinematic disturbances of the type seen here are common, but the curious thing about NGC 4647 is that the molecular distribution appears more disturbed than the Hi distribution. Thus, it is the combination of the two gas phases that provides such interesting insight into the galaxy's history and into models of the interstellar medium.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据