Galaxy Zoo:the dependence of the star formation–stellar mass relation on spiral disc morphology

Willett, Kyle W. and Schawinski, Kevin and Simmons, Brooke D. and Masters, Karen L. and Skibba, Ramin A. and Kaviraj, Sugata and Melvin, Thomas and Wong, O. Ivy and Nichol, Robert C. and Cheung, Edmond and Lintott, Chris J. and Fortson, Lucy (2015) Galaxy Zoo:the dependence of the star formation–stellar mass relation on spiral disc morphology. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 449 (1). pp. 820-827. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

We measure the stellar mass–star formation rate (SFR) relation in star-forming disc galaxies at z ≤ 0.085, using Galaxy Zoo morphologies to examine different populations of spirals as classified by their kiloparsec-scale structure. We examine the number of spiral arms, their relative pitch angle, and the presence of a galactic bar in the disc, and show that both the slope and dispersion of the M⋆–SFR relation is constant when varying all the above parameters. We also show that mergers (both major and minor), which represent the strongest conditions for increases in star formation at a constant mass, only boost the SFR above the main relation by ∼0.3 dex; this is significantly smaller than the increase seen in merging systems at z > 1. Of the galaxies lying significantly above the M⋆–SFR relation in the local Universe, more than 50 per cent are mergers. We interpret this as evidence that the spiral arms, which are imperfect reflections of the galaxy's current gravitational potential, are either fully independent of the various quenching mechanisms or are completely overwhelmed by the combination of outflows and feedback. The arrangement of the star formation can be changed, but the system as a whole regulates itself even in the presence of strong dynamical forcing.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1912
Subjects:
?? ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICSSPACE AND PLANETARY SCIENCE ??
ID Code:
127633
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
20 Sep 2018 14:14
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
17 Sep 2023 02:21