The molecular gas content of spiral galaxies in compact groups.
Abstract
We present ^12^CO(J=1-0) line observations of 15 late-type optically selected galaxies in compact groups. In order to study the effects of environment on the molecular content of compact group galaxies we use the CO(1-0) emission to estimate an indicative molecular hydrogen content of the target galaxies adopting a standard conversion factor X=N(H_2_)/I(CO). We compare the frequency distribution of the normalized hybrid molecular gas surface density to the one obtained for an optically selected reference sample of isolated galaxies. Despite their high-density environment, compact group galaxies have, on average, similar CO emission compared to isolated galaxies of same sizes and luminosities. However there are some compact group galaxies with perturbed morphologies and high far-infrared fluxes which have an enhanced CO emissivity.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- October 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996A&A...314..738B
- Keywords:
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- GALAXIES: EVOLUTION;
- GALAXIES: INTERACTION;
- GALAXIES: SPIRAL;
- GALAXIES: ISM;
- RADIO LINES: GALAXIES