Gas Dynamics and Outflow in the Barred Starburst Galaxy NGC 1808 Revealed with ALMA

TL;DR

This study uses ALMA to map molecular gas in NGC 1808, revealing complex inflow and outflow dynamics, multiple gas components, and insights into star formation and galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It provides high-resolution observations of molecular gas components and kinematics in NGC 1808, including the first detailed analysis of outflow and inflow processes in this galaxy.

Findings

Detection of four distinct molecular gas components.

Identification of a kinematic offset between different regions.

Estimation of outflow rate relative to star formation rate (~0.2).

Abstract

NGC 1808 is a nearby barred starburst galaxy with an outflow from the nuclear region. To study the inflow and outflow processes related to star formation and dynamical evolution of the galaxy, we have carried out \(^{12}\)CO (\(J=1-0\)) mapping observations of the central \(r\sim4\) kpc of NGC 1808 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Four distinct components of molecular gas are revealed at high spatial resolution of 2\arcsec (\(\sim100\) pc): (1) a compact (\(r<200\) pc) circumnuclear disk (CND), (2) \(r\sim500\) pc ring, (3) gas-rich galactic bar, and (4) spiral arms. Basic geometric and kinematic parameters are derived for the central 1-kpc region using tilted-ring modeling. The derived rotation curve reveals multiple mass components that include (1) a stellar bulge, (2) nuclear bar and molecular CND, and (3) unresolved massive (\(\sim10^7~M_\sun\)) core. Two systemic velocities, 998 km s\(^{-1}\) for the CND and 964 km s\(^{-1}\) for the 500-pc ring, are revealed, indicating a kinematic offset. The pattern speed of the primary bar, derived by using a cloud-orbit model, is \(56\pm11\) km s\(^{-1}\) kpc\(^{-1}\). Non-circular motions are detected associated with a nuclear spiral pattern and outflow in the central 1-kpc region. The ratio of the mass outflow rate to the star formation rate is \(\dot{M}_\mathrm{out}/SFR\sim0.2\) in the case of optically thin CO (1-0) emission in the outflow, suggesting low efficiency of star formation quenching.