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The ALMaQUEST survey – III. Scatter in the resolved star-forming main sequence is primarily due to variations in star formation efficiency
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:18
Version 1 2023-06-09, 20:07
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:18 authored by Sara L Ellison, Mallory D Thorp, Lihwai Lin, Hsi-An Pan, Asa F L Bluck, Jillian M Scudder, Hossen Teimoorinia, Sebastian F Sanchez, Mark SargentUsing a sample of 11,478 spaxels in 34 galaxies with molecular gas, star formation and stellar maps taken from the ALMA-MaNGA QUEnching and STar formation (ALMaQUEST) survey, we investigate the parameters that correlate with variations in star formation rates on kpc scales. We use a combination of correlation statistics and an artificial neural network to quantify the parameters that drive both the absolute star formation rate surface density (Sigma_SFR), as well as its scatter around the resolved star forming main sequence (Delta Sigma_SFR). We find that Sigma_SFR is primarily regulated by molecular gas surface density (Sigma_H2) with a secondary dependence on stellar mass surface density (Sigma_*), as expected from an `extended Kennicutt-Schmidt relation'. However, Delta Sigma_SFR is driven primarily by changes in star formation efficiency (SFE), with variations in gas fraction playing a secondary role. Taken together, our results demonstrate that whilst the absolute rate of star formation is primarily set by the amount of molecular gas, the variation of star formation rate above and below the resolved star forming main sequence (on kpc scales) is primarily due to changes in SFE.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyISSN
0035-8711Publisher
Blackwell PublishingExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
493Page range
L39-L43Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Astronomy Centre Publications
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- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-01-06First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-01-06First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-01-06Usage metrics
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