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Title:
Submillimeter Galaxies at z ~ 2: Evidence for Major Mergers and Constraints on Lifetimes, IMF, and CO-H2 Conversion Factor
Authors:
Tacconi, L. J.; Genzel, R.; Smail, I.; Neri, R.; Chapman, S. C.; Ivison, R. J.; Blain, A.; Cox, P.; Omont, A.; Bertoldi, F.; Greve, T.; Förster Schreiber, N. M.; Genel, S.; Lutz, D.; Swinbank, A. M.; Shapley, A. E.; Erb, D. K.; Cimatti, A.; Daddi, E.; Baker, A. J.
Affiliation:
AA(Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany; , , , , .), AB(Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany; , , , , .; Department of Physics, University of California, Le Conte Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720.), AC(Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom; , .), AD(Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM), St. Martin d'Heres, France; , .), AE(Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, United Kingdom; .), AF(UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, United Kingdom and Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, United Kingdom; .), AG(Astronomy 105-24, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125; , .), AH(Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM), St. Martin d'Heres, France; , .), AI(CNRS and Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 98 bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France; .), AJ(AIUB, Bonn, Germany; .), AK(Max-Planck Institut für Astronomie (MPIA), Königsstuhl 17, D-68117 Heidelberg, Germany; .), AL(Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany; , , , , .), AM(Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany; , , , , .), AN(Max-Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85741 Garching, Germany; , , , , .), AO(Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom; , .), AP(Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Peyton Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544; .), AQ(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; .), AR(Dipartimento di Astronomia-Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Via Ranzani 1, I-40127 Bologna, Italy; .), AS(Laboratoire AIM, CEA/DSM-CNRS-Université Paris Diderot, DAPNIA/SAp, Orme des Merisiers, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; .), AT(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 136 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08854; .)
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 680, Issue 1, pp. 246-262. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
06/2008
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
Cosmology: Observations, Galaxies: Evolution, Galaxies: Formation, Galaxies: High-Redshift, Galaxies: Kinematics and Dynamics, Stars: Luminosity Function, Mass Function
DOI:
10.1086/587168
Bibliographic Code:
2008ApJ...680..246T

Abstract

We report subarcsecond resolution IRAM PdBI millimeter CO interferometry of four z~2 submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), and sensitive CO(3-2) flux limits toward three z~2 UV/optically selected star-forming galaxies. The new data reveal for the first time spatially resolved CO gas kinematics in the observed SMGs. Two of the SMGs show double or multiple morphologies, with complex, disturbed gas motions. The other two SMGs exhibit CO velocity gradients of ~500 km s-1 across <=0.2" (1.6 kpc) diameter regions, suggesting that the star-forming gas is in compact, rotating disks. Our data provide compelling evidence that these SMGs represent extreme, short-lived ``maximum'' star-forming events in highly dissipative mergers of gas-rich galaxies. The resulting high-mass surface and volume densities of SMGs are similar to those of compact quiescent galaxies in the same redshift range and much higher than those in local spheroids. From the ratio of the comoving volume densities of SMGs and quiescent galaxies in the same mass and redshift ranges, and from the comparison of gas exhaustion timescales and stellar ages, we estimate that the SMG phase duration is about 100 Myr. Our analysis of SMGs and optically/UV selected high-redshift star-forming galaxies supports a ``universal'' Chabrier IMF as being valid over the star-forming history of these galaxies. We find that the 12CO luminosity to total gas mass conversion factors at z~2-3 are probably similar to those assumed at z~0. The implied gas fractions in our sample galaxies range from 20% to 50%.

Based on observations obtained at the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI). IRAM is funded by the Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (France), the Max-Planck Gesellschaft (Germany), and the Instituto Geografico Nacional (Spain).

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