We estimate the parameters of the Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relationship in the
STING sample of nearby disk galaxies using the hierarchical Bayesian method
developed by Shetty et al. This method rigorously treats measurement
uncertainties, and provides accurate parameter estimates for individual
galaxies as well as the entire population. We find that the KS parameters vary
between galaxies, indicating that no universal relationship holds for all
galaxies. Additionally, in eight galaxies the KS relationship is sub-linear at
95% confidence. The KS slope of the whole population is 0.76, with the 95%
extent 0.60, 0.92. This suggests that the molecular gas depletion time is not
constant, but varies from galaxy to galaxy, and increases with the molecular
gas surface density. These results suggest that other galactic properties
besides just the gas surface density, such as gas fraction or stellar mass,
affect the star formation rates. The non-universality of the KS relationship
indicates that a comprehensive theory of star formation must take into account
additional physical processes that may vary from galaxy to galaxy.
Description
[1306.2951] Indications of a sub-linear and non-universal Kennicutt-Schmidt relationship
%0 Generic
%1 shetty2013indications
%A Shetty, Rahul
%A Kelly, Brandon C.
%A Rahman, Nurur
%A Bigiel, Frank
%A Bolatto, Alberto D.
%A Clark, Paul C.
%A Klessen, Ralf S.
%A Konstandin, Lukas K.
%D 2013
%K law sfr
%T Indications of a sub-linear and non-universal Kennicutt-Schmidt
relationship
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.2951
%X We estimate the parameters of the Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relationship in the
STING sample of nearby disk galaxies using the hierarchical Bayesian method
developed by Shetty et al. This method rigorously treats measurement
uncertainties, and provides accurate parameter estimates for individual
galaxies as well as the entire population. We find that the KS parameters vary
between galaxies, indicating that no universal relationship holds for all
galaxies. Additionally, in eight galaxies the KS relationship is sub-linear at
95% confidence. The KS slope of the whole population is 0.76, with the 95%
extent 0.60, 0.92. This suggests that the molecular gas depletion time is not
constant, but varies from galaxy to galaxy, and increases with the molecular
gas surface density. These results suggest that other galactic properties
besides just the gas surface density, such as gas fraction or stellar mass,
affect the star formation rates. The non-universality of the KS relationship
indicates that a comprehensive theory of star formation must take into account
additional physical processes that may vary from galaxy to galaxy.
@misc{shetty2013indications,
abstract = {We estimate the parameters of the Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relationship in the
STING sample of nearby disk galaxies using the hierarchical Bayesian method
developed by Shetty et al. This method rigorously treats measurement
uncertainties, and provides accurate parameter estimates for individual
galaxies as well as the entire population. We find that the KS parameters vary
between galaxies, indicating that no universal relationship holds for all
galaxies. Additionally, in eight galaxies the KS relationship is sub-linear at
95% confidence. The KS slope of the whole population is 0.76, with the 95%
extent [0.60, 0.92]. This suggests that the molecular gas depletion time is not
constant, but varies from galaxy to galaxy, and increases with the molecular
gas surface density. These results suggest that other galactic properties
besides just the gas surface density, such as gas fraction or stellar mass,
affect the star formation rates. The non-universality of the KS relationship
indicates that a comprehensive theory of star formation must take into account
additional physical processes that may vary from galaxy to galaxy.},
added-at = {2013-06-14T10:09:26.000+0200},
author = {Shetty, Rahul and Kelly, Brandon C. and Rahman, Nurur and Bigiel, Frank and Bolatto, Alberto D. and Clark, Paul C. and Klessen, Ralf S. and Konstandin, Lukas K.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/22c4a9ccb14d6a306d83ad30570e48650/miki},
description = {[1306.2951] Indications of a sub-linear and non-universal Kennicutt-Schmidt relationship},
interhash = {7fb10598702e41f86735368db1405e74},
intrahash = {2c4a9ccb14d6a306d83ad30570e48650},
keywords = {law sfr},
note = {cite arxiv:1306.2951Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Submitted to MNRAS Letters},
timestamp = {2013-06-14T10:09:26.000+0200},
title = {Indications of a sub-linear and non-universal Kennicutt-Schmidt
relationship},
url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.2951},
year = 2013
}