Multi-line Imaging of the Starburst Galaxy NGC 1808 with ALMA

TL;DR

This paper presents high-resolution ALMA observations of NGC 1808, revealing a molecular gas torus, excitation variations, and shock signatures, providing insights into starburst galaxy gas dynamics and nuclear activity.

Contribution

First high-resolution ALMA imaging of NGC 1808 revealing a molecular torus, excitation ratios, and shock indicators, advancing understanding of starburst galaxy central regions.

Findings

Discovery of a molecular gas torus with a 30 pc radius.

Elevated CO (3-2)/CO (1-0) ratio in star-forming disk.

Detection of SiO (2-1) indicating shocks in the nucleus.

Abstract

Revealing the properties of molecular gas in starburst galaxies is key to understand the process of star formation across cosmic history. In this paper, we present our recent high-resolution ($\sim1''$ or 50 pc) ALMA observations of the nearby, barred starburst galaxy NGC 1808, and highlight some of the main findings: (1) the discovery of a double peak revealed in the distributions of CO (3-2) and CS (2-1) in the circumnuclear disk indicating the presence of a molecular gas torus with a radius of $r\sim30$ pc; inside the torus, we found a compact source of dust continuum at 0.87 mm and CO, coincident with the location of the low-luminosity AGN revealed by X-ray observations; (2) the excitation of CO gas, traced by the line intensity ratio of CO (3-2) to CO (1-0) is elevated to $\sim1$ in the star-forming disk; the ratio is between 0.3 and 1 in the 500 pc ring; (3) the ratio of HCN (1-0) to HCO$^{+}$ (1-0) in the central 1 kpc exhibits a radial gradient: while the ratio decreases from $\sim1.5$ in the center to $\sim0.9$ in the 500 pc disk, it exhibits a peak of $\sim1.2$ in a ring-like structure at a galactocentric radius of $r\sim300$ pc. The detection of SiO (2-1) in the circumnuclear disk suggests the presence of shocks, likely generated by intense nuclear star formation (supernova explosions and winds from massive stars), as well as inflows and outflows of turbulent gas in the central 100 pc.