The hidden HI-massive LIRG HIZOA J0836-43: Inside-out galaxy formation

TL;DR

HIZOA J0836-43 is a gas-rich, starburst galaxy behind the Milky Way, showing inside-out formation with atypical interstellar medium conditions and no significant active nucleus, resembling intermediate-redshift disk building.

Contribution

This study provides detailed infrared observations of a hidden, massive, gas-rich galaxy, revealing its starburst nature and inside-out formation process, which is rare for such obscured systems.

Findings

High gas mass and star formation rate indicating rapid stellar growth.

Weak mid-infrared continuum suggests unusual interstellar medium conditions.

Absence of strong AGN signatures implies star formation dominates.

Abstract

HIZOA J0836-43 is an extreme gas-rich ($M_{\rm{HI}}$=7.5$\times10^{10} M_{\sun}$) disk galaxy which lies hidden behind the strongly obscuring Vela region of the Milky Way. Utilizing observations from the {\it Spitzer Space Telescope}, we have found it to be a luminous infrared starburst galaxy with a star formation rate of $\sim 21 M_{\sun} \rm{yr^{-1}}$, arising from exceptionally strong molecular PAH emission ($L_{7.7\micron} = 1.50 \times 10^{9} L_{\odot}$) and far-infrared emission from cold dust. The galaxy exhibits a weak mid-infrared continuum compared to other starforming galaxies and U/LIRGs. This relative lack of emission from small grains suggests atypical interstellar medium conditions compared to other starbursts. We do not detect significant $[$Ne {\sc v}$]$ or $[$O {\sc iv}$]$, which implies an absent or very weak AGN. The galaxy possesses a prominent bulge of evolved stars and a stellar mass of 4.4($\pm$1.4)$\times10^{10} M_{\sun}$. With its plentiful gas supply and current star formation rate, a doubling of stellar mass would occur on a timescale of $\sim$2 Gyr. Compared to local galaxies, HIZOA J0836-43 appears to be a "scaled-up" spiral undergoing inside-out formation, possibly resembling stellar disk building processes at intermediate redshifts.