The rate and efficiency of high-mass star formation along the Hubble sequence

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view Abstract Citations (104) References (70) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Rate and Efficiency of High-Mass Star Formation along the Hubble Sequence Devereux, Nicholas A. ; Young, Judith S. Abstract Data obtained with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) are used to investigate the dependence of the far-infrared luminosity on Hubble type for a complete sample of 983 spiral galaxies selected from the Nearby Galaxies Catalog. The investigation has revealed that the median far- infrared luminosity is ~ 10^9^ L_sun_ for spirals of types Sa-Scd inclusive. Following a justification that the far-infrared luminosity is a measure of the OB star formation rate, the results indicate that the median high-mass star formation rates are comparable in the early (Sa-Sab), intermediate- (Sb-Sbc), and late- (Sc-Scd) type spiral galaxies. The deduction is independently supported by published data indicating a similar incidence of Type II supernovae among spiral galaxies. New measurements of the CO (J = 1-0) emission line have permitted an accurate determination of the global molecular gas mass for 153 spiral galaxies. Comparison of the molecular gas mass with the IRAS (40-120 micron) luminosity has revealed that the mean ratio L(FIR)/M(H_2_) is similar for spirals of type Sa-Scd inclusive. If high-mass stars form from molecular gas, then the similar L(FIR)/M(H_2_) ratios must indicate that the average global yield of high-mass stars per unit molecular gas mass is independent of spiral type. Spiral galaxies of types Sa-Scd are similar in the median global intensity of high-mass star formation and in the global average yield of high-mass stars per unit molecular gas mass. Evidently the Hubble sequence is not a sequence in the present-day rate or production efficiency of high- mass stars. Collectively these results reveal a remarkable homogeneity in the present-day high-mass, star-forming capabilities of spiral galaxies despite the wide diversity of optical morphology. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1991 DOI: 10.1086/169915 Bibcode: 1991ApJ...371..515D Keywords: Galactic Structure; Infrared Sources (Astronomy); Interstellar Matter; Spiral Galaxies; Star Formation; Far Infrared Radiation; Hubble Diagram; Infrared Astronomy; Infrared Astronomy Satellite; Stellar Mass; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INTERSTELLAR MATTER; GALAXIES: STRUCTURE; INFRARED: SOURCES; STARS: FORMATION full text sources ADS |

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• University of Massachusetts Amherst US
• Five Colleges US

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