Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/55688

Title

Starbursts from the strong compression of galactic molecular clouds due to the high pressure of the intracluster medium

Author(s)

Bekki, Kenji;  Couch, Warrick J.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the high pressure of the hot intracluster medium (ICM) can trigger the collapse of molecular clouds in a spiral galaxy, leading to a burst of star formation in the clouds. Our hydrodynamical simulations show that the high gaseous (ram pressure and static thermal) pressure of the ICM strongly compresses a self-gravitating gas cloud within a short timescale (∼107 yr), dramatically increasing the central gas density and consequently causing efficient star formation within the cloud. The stars developed in the cloud form a compact, gravitationally bound star cluster. The star formation efficiency within such a cloud is found to depend on the temperature and the density of the ICM and the relative velocity of the galaxy with respect to it. Based on these results, we discuss the origin of starburst/post-starburst populations observed in distant clusters, the enhancement of star formation for galaxies in merging clusters, and the isolated compact H iiregions recently discovered in the Virgo Cluster.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 596, no. 1 (Oct 2003), pp. L13-L16

Publication year

2003

FOR Code(s)

0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences

Keyword(s)

Galaxy clusters;  Galaxy interactions;  ISM galaxies;  Star clusters

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

ISSN

0004-637X

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/379054

Copyright

Copyright © 2003 American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Peer reviewed