Speaker
Andreas Schruba
(MPE, Garching)
Description
I summarize first results from a large CARMA survey to image CO(1-0) emission at high sensitivity and resolution (20pc, 1km/s) in the nearby Andromeda galaxy (M31). This survey augments a new extensive set of multi-wavelength data including Hubble, Spitzer, Herschel, VLA photometry and spectroscopy that provide an unprecedented knowledge of the stars, dust, and gas in M31. We are able to measure the properties of 500 giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and perform a statistical study of GMC properties across a wide range of environments. We determine the requirements for the formation of GMCs, measure their lifetimes, and study the timescale and efficiency of feedback. In addition, we measure the dust-to-gas ratio and calibrate the CO-to-H2 factor on GMC scales. These observations will provide essential benchmarks for models of ISM balance, GMC and star formation in a typical L* galaxy - the galaxy type where most stars are forming.
Author
Andreas Schruba
(MPE, Garching)