Deciphering the radio-star formation correlation on kpc-scales III. Radio-dim and bright regions in spiral galaxies

TL;DR

This study investigates the relationship between star formation and non-thermal radio emission in spiral galaxies, revealing how cosmic ray transport, magnetic fields, and galactic interactions influence radio-bright and radio-dim regions.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive 3D model combining star formation, cosmic ray propagation, and synchrotron physics to interpret radio emission variations in spiral galaxies.

Findings

Radio-bright regions are caused by cosmic ray transport mechanisms.

Radio-dim galaxies have lower magnetic fields than expected.

Polarized radio emission correlates with radio/SFR ratio.

Abstract

The relation between the resolved star formation rate per unit area and the non-thermal radio continuum emission is studied in 21 Virgo cluster galaxies and the two nearby spiral galaxies, NGC6946 and M51. For the interpretation and understanding of our results we used a 3D model where star formation, 2D cosmic ray (CR) propagation, and the physics of synchrotron emission are included. Based on the linear correlation between the star formation rate per unit area and the synchrotron emission and its scatter radio-bright and radio-dim regions can be robustly defined for our sample of spiral galaxies. We identified CR diffusion or streaming as the physical causes of radio-bright regions of unperturbed symmetric spiral galaxies as NGC6946. We identified the probable causes of radio-bright regions in several galaxies as CR transport, via either gravitational tides (M51) or galactic winds (NGC4532) or ram pressure stripping (NGC4330 and NGC4522). Three galaxies are overall radio-dim: NGC4298, NGC4535, and NGC4567. Based on our model of synchrotron-emitting disks we suggest that the overall radio-dim galaxies have a significantly lower magnetic field than expected by equipartition between the magnetic and turbulent energy densities. Radio-bright regions frequently coincide with asymmetric ridges of polarized radio continuum emission, and we found a clear albeit moderate correlation between the polarized radio continuum emission and the radio/SFR ratio. When compression or shear motions of the interstellar medium (ISM) are present in the galactic disk, the radio-bright regions are linked to the commonly observed asymmetric ridges of polarized radio continuum emission and represent a useful tool for the interaction diagnostics. Based on our results, we propose a scenario for the interplay between star formation, CR electrons, and magnetic fields in spiral galaxies.