High-Velocity Outflows Without Agn Feedback: Eddington-Limited Star Formation in Compact Massive Galaxies

Authors

Aleksandar M. Diamond-Stanic, University of California - San Diego
John Moustakas, University of California - San Diego
Christy A. Tremonti, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Alison L. Coil, University of California - San DiegoFollow
Ryan C. Hickox, Dartmouth College

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-20-2012

Publication Title

Letters of the Astrophysical Journal

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

We present the discovery of compact, obscured star formation in galaxies at z ~ 0.6 that exhibit 1000 km s^–1 outflows. Using optical morphologies from the Hubble Space Telescope and infrared photometry from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, we estimate star formation rate (SFR) surface densities that approach Σ_SFR ≈ 3000 M _☉ yr^–1 kpc^–2, comparable to the Eddington limit from radiation pressure on dust grains. We argue that feedback associated with a compact starburst in the form of radiation pressure from massive stars and ram pressure from supernovae and stellar winds is sufficient to produce the high-velocity outflows we observe, without the need to invoke feedback from an active galactic nucleus.

DOI

10.1088/2041-8205/755/2/L26

Original Citation

Aleksandar M. Diamond-Stanic et al 2012 ApJL 755 L26

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Diamond-Stanic, Aleksandar M.; Moustakas, John; Tremonti, Christy A.; Coil, Alison L.; and Hickox, Ryan C., "High-Velocity Outflows Without Agn Feedback: Eddington-Limited Star Formation in Compact Massive Galaxies" (2012). Dartmouth Scholarship. 1787.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/1787