SDSS-IV MaNGA: A SERENDIPITOUS OBSERVATION of A POTENTIAL GAS ACCRETION EVENT

Edmond Cheung, David V. Stark, Song Huang, Kate H.R. Rubin, Lihwai Lin, Christy Tremonti, Kai Zhang, Renbin Yan, Dmitry Bizyaev, Médéric Boquien, Joel R. Brownstein, Niv Drory, Joseph D. Gelfand, Johan H. Knapen, Roberto Maiolino, Olena Malanushenko, Karen L. Masters, Michael R. Merrifield, Zach Pace, Kaike PanRogemar A. Riffel, Alexandre Roman-Lopes, Wiphu Rujopakarn, Donald P. Schneider, John P. Stott, Daniel Thomas, Anne Marie Weijmans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The nature of warm, ionized gas outside of galaxies may illuminate several key galaxy evolutionary processes. A serendipitous observation by the MaNGA survey has revealed a large, asymmetric Hα complex with no optical counterpart that extends ≈8″ (≈6.3 kpc) beyond the effective radius of a dusty, starbursting galaxy. This Hα extension is approximately three times the effective radius of the host galaxy and displays a tail-like morphology. We analyze its gas-phase metallicities, gaseous kinematics, and emission-line ratios and discuss whether this Hα extension could be diffuse ionized gas, a gas accretion event, or something else. We find that this warm, ionized gas structure is most consistent with gas accretion through recycled wind material, which could be an important process that regulates the low-mass end of the galaxy stellar mass function.

Original languageEnglish
Article number182
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume832
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • galaxies: abundances
  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: formation
  • galaxies: starburst

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SDSS-IV MaNGA: A SERENDIPITOUS OBSERVATION of A POTENTIAL GAS ACCRETION EVENT'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this