Atomic and Molecular Gas Components in Spiral Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster

TL;DR

This study compares atomic and molecular gas ratios in Virgo cluster galaxies with field galaxies, revealing that environmental factors beyond metallicity and ram pressure stripping influence gas composition.

Contribution

It introduces models that highlight additional environmental effects impacting the molecular-to-atomic gas ratio in cluster galaxies beyond known mechanisms.

Findings

Metallicity alone does not explain gas ratios.

Ram pressure stripping is insufficient to account for observations.

Environmental factors increase molecular gas fractions.

Abstract

Based on two models, we investigate the molecular-to-atomic gas ratio in Virgo cluster galaxies in comparison with field galaxies. We show that the enhanced metallicity for cluster members and the ram pressure stripping of atomic gas from the disk periphery cannot fully explain the observed gas component ratios. The additional environmental factors affecting the interstellar medium and leading to an increase in the molecular gas fraction should be taken into account for cluster galaxies.