The extended law of star formation: the combined role of gas and stars
Abstract
We present a model for the origin of the extended law of star formation in which the surface density of star formation (ΣSFR) depends not only on the local surface density of the gas (Σg) but also on the stellar surface density (Σ*), the velocity dispersion of the stars and on the scaling laws of turbulence in the gas. We compare our model with the spiral, face-on galaxy NGC 628 and show that the dependence of the star formation rate on the entire set of physical quantities for both gas and stars can help explain both the observed general trends in the Σg - ΣSFR and Σ* - ΣSFR relations, but also, and equally important, the scatter in these relations at any value of Σg and Σ*. Our results point out to the crucial role played by existing stars along with the gaseous component in setting the conditions for large scale gravitational instabilities and star formation in galactic discs.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/stx934
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1702.02609
- Bibcode:
- 2017MNRAS.469.1521D
- Keywords:
-
- ISM: structure;
- galaxies: evolution;
- galaxies: ISM;
- galaxies: kinematics and dynamics;
- galaxies: star formation;
- galaxies: stellar content;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- aceepted to MNRAS