[CII] and CO Emission Along the Bar and Counter-Arms of NGC 7479

TL;DR

This study uses SOFIA and ALMA observations to analyze [CII] and CO emissions in NGC 7479, revealing complex gas dynamics, shock interactions, and evidence of CO-dark molecular gas in the galaxy's bar and counter-arms.

Contribution

First detailed multi-wavelength analysis of [CII] and CO emissions in NGC 7479, highlighting shock heating, CO-dark gas, and gas kinematics related to galaxy interactions.

Findings

High [CII]/CO ratios at counter-arm ends suggest shock-heated molecular gas.

Detection of CO-dark molecular gas patches in the galaxy.

Resolved velocity components indicate complex gas motions along the bar.

Abstract

We present new SOFIA [CII] and ALMA CO(J=1-0) observations of the nearby asymmetric barred spiral galaxy NGC 7479. The data, which cover the whole bar of the galaxy and the counter-arms visible in the radio continuum, are analyzed in conjunction with a wealth of existing visible, infrared, radio, and X-ray data. As in most normal galaxies, the [CII] emission is generally consistent with emission from cooling gas excited by photoelectric heating in photo-dissociation regions. However, anomalously high [CII]/CO ratios are seen at the two ends of the counter-arms. Both ends show shell-like structures, possibly bubbles, in H-alpha emission. In addition, the southern end has [CII] to infrared emission ratios inconsistent with normal star formation. Because there is little HI emission at this location, the [CII] emission probably originates in warm shocked molecular gas heated by the interaction of the radio jet forming the counter-arms with the interstellar medium in the galaxy. At two other locations, the high [CII]/CO ratios provide evidence for the existence of patches of CO-dark molecular gas. The [CII] and CO observations also reveal resolved velocity components along the bar. In particular, the CO emission can be separated into two components associated to gas along the leading edge of the bar and gas trailing the bar. The trailing gas component that amounts to approximately 40% of the gas around the bar region may be related to a minor merger.