First Detection of Molecular Gas in the Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxy Malin 1

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Main Authors: Galaz, Gaspar, González-López, Jorge, Guzmán, Viviana, Messias, Hugo, Junais, Boissier, Samuel, Epinat, Benoît, Weilbacher, Peter M., Puzia, Thomas, Johnston, Evelyn J., Amram, Philippe, Frayer, David, Blaña, Matías, Howk, J. Christopher, Berg, Michelle, Bustos-Espinoza, Roy, Muñoz-Mateos, Juan Carlos, Cortés, Paulo, García-Appadoo, Diego, Joachimi, Katerine
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Galaz, Gaspar
González-López, Jorge
Guzmán, Viviana
Messias, Hugo
Junais
Boissier, Samuel
Epinat, Benoît
Weilbacher, Peter M.
Puzia, Thomas
Johnston, Evelyn J.
Amram, Philippe
Frayer, David
Blaña, Matías
Howk, J. Christopher
Berg, Michelle
Bustos-Espinoza, Roy
Muñoz-Mateos, Juan Carlos
Cortés, Paulo
García-Appadoo, Diego
Joachimi, Katerine
author_facet Galaz, Gaspar
González-López, Jorge
Guzmán, Viviana
Messias, Hugo
Junais
Boissier, Samuel
Epinat, Benoît
Weilbacher, Peter M.
Puzia, Thomas
Johnston, Evelyn J.
Amram, Philippe
Frayer, David
Blaña, Matías
Howk, J. Christopher
Berg, Michelle
Bustos-Espinoza, Roy
Muñoz-Mateos, Juan Carlos
Cortés, Paulo
García-Appadoo, Diego
Joachimi, Katerine
contents After over three decades of unsuccessful attempts, we report the first detection of molecular gas emission in Malin 1, the largest spiral galaxy observed to date, and one of the most iconic giant low surface brightness galaxies. Using ALMA, we detect significant $^{12}$CO(J=1-0) emission in the galaxy's central region and tentatively identify CO emission across three regions on the disc. These observations allow for a better estimate of the H$_2$ mass and molecular gas mass surface density, both of which are remarkably low given the galaxy's scale. By integrating data on its HI mass, we derive a very low molecular-to-atomic gas mass ratio. Overall, our results highlight the minimal presence of molecular gas in Malin 1, contrasting sharply with its extensive, homogeneous atomic gas reservoir. For the first time, we position Malin 1 on the Kennicutt-Schmidt (K-S) diagram, where it falls below the main sequence for normal spirals, consistent with previous upper limits but now with more accurate figures. These findings are crucial for constraining our understanding of star formation processes in environments characterized by extremely low molecular gas densities and for refining models of galaxy formation, thereby improving predictions concerning the formation, evolution, and distribution of these giant, elusive galaxies.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_22230
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle First Detection of Molecular Gas in the Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxy Malin 1
Galaz, Gaspar
González-López, Jorge
Guzmán, Viviana
Messias, Hugo
Junais
Boissier, Samuel
Epinat, Benoît
Weilbacher, Peter M.
Puzia, Thomas
Johnston, Evelyn J.
Amram, Philippe
Frayer, David
Blaña, Matías
Howk, J. Christopher
Berg, Michelle
Bustos-Espinoza, Roy
Muñoz-Mateos, Juan Carlos
Cortés, Paulo
García-Appadoo, Diego
Joachimi, Katerine
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
After over three decades of unsuccessful attempts, we report the first detection of molecular gas emission in Malin 1, the largest spiral galaxy observed to date, and one of the most iconic giant low surface brightness galaxies. Using ALMA, we detect significant $^{12}$CO(J=1-0) emission in the galaxy's central region and tentatively identify CO emission across three regions on the disc. These observations allow for a better estimate of the H$_2$ mass and molecular gas mass surface density, both of which are remarkably low given the galaxy's scale. By integrating data on its HI mass, we derive a very low molecular-to-atomic gas mass ratio. Overall, our results highlight the minimal presence of molecular gas in Malin 1, contrasting sharply with its extensive, homogeneous atomic gas reservoir. For the first time, we position Malin 1 on the Kennicutt-Schmidt (K-S) diagram, where it falls below the main sequence for normal spirals, consistent with previous upper limits but now with more accurate figures. These findings are crucial for constraining our understanding of star formation processes in environments characterized by extremely low molecular gas densities and for refining models of galaxy formation, thereby improving predictions concerning the formation, evolution, and distribution of these giant, elusive galaxies.
title First Detection of Molecular Gas in the Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxy Malin 1
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.22230