The Disruption and Fueling of M33

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed HI observations of the M33 galaxy, revealing extensive gaseous disruptions likely caused by past tidal interactions with M31, and discusses the implications for M33's future star formation and its role in galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It provides new high-resolution HI data of M33, identifying extended gaseous features and linking them to past tidal interactions with M31, offering insights into galaxy disruption and gas redistribution.

Findings

Over 18% of M33's HI is beyond the star-forming disk.

Gaseous features extend up to 22 kpc from the galaxy center.

M33's gas is reconnecting with its disk after tidal disruption.

Abstract

The disruption of the M33 galaxy is evident from its extended gaseous structure. We present new data from the Galactic Arecibo L-Band Feed Array HI (GALFA-HI) Survey that show the full extent and detailed spatial and kinematic structure of M33's neutral hydrogen. Over 18% of the HI mass of M33 (M_HI(tot) =1.4 x 10^9 Msun) is found beyond the star forming disk as traced in the far-ultraviolet (FUV). The most distinct features are extended warps, an arc from the northern warp to the disk, diffuse gas surrounding the galaxy, and a southern cloud with a filament back to the galaxy. The features extend out to 22 kpc from the galaxy center (18 kpc from the edge of the FUV disk) and the gas is directly connected to M33's disk. Only five discrete clouds (i.e., gas not directly connected to M33 in position-velocity space) are catalogued in the vicinity of M33, and these clouds show similar properties to Galactic and M31 halo clouds. M33's gaseous features most likely originate from the tidal disruption of M33 by M31 1-3 Gyr ago as shown from an orbit analysis which results in a tidal radius < 15 kpc in the majority of M33's possible orbits. M33 is now beyond the disruptive gravitational influence of M31 and the gas appears to be returning to M33's disk and redistributing its star formation fuel. M33's high mean velocity dispersion in the disk (~18.5 km/s) may also be consistent with the previous interaction and high rate of star formation. M33 will either exhaust its star formation fuel in the next few Gyrs or eventually become star formation fuel for M31. The latter represents the accretion of a large gaseous satellite by a spiral galaxy, similar to the Magellanic Clouds' relationship to the Galaxy.