The hidden mass and large spatial extent of a post-starburst galaxy outflow

Todd M. Tripp; Joseph D. Meiring; J. Xavier Prochaska; Christopher N.A. Willmer; J. Christopher Howk; Jessica K. Werk; Edward B. Jenkins; David V. Bowen; Nicolas Lehner; Kenneth R. Sembach; Christopher Thom; Jason Tumlinson

doi:10.1126/science.1209850

The hidden mass and large spatial extent of a post-starburst galaxy outflow

Todd M. Tripp, Joseph D. Meiring, J. Xavier Prochaska, Christopher N.A. Willmer, J. Christopher Howk, Jessica K. Werk, Edward B. Jenkins, David V. Bowen, Nicolas Lehner, Kenneth R. Sembach, Christopher Thom, Jason Tumlinson

Astrophysical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

143 Scopus citations

Abstract

Outflowing winds of multiphase plasma have been proposed to regulate the buildup of galaxies, but key aspects of these outflows have not been probed with observations. By using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, we show that "warm-hot" plasma at 10^5.5 kelvin contains 10 to 150 times more mass than the cold gas in a post-starburst galaxy wind. This wind extends to distances > 68 kiloparsecs, and at least some portion of it will escape. Moreover, the kinematical correlation of the cold and warm-hot phases indicates that the warm-hot plasma is related to the interaction of the cold matter with a hotter (unseen) phase at ≫10⁶ kelvin. Such multiphase winds can remove substantial masses and alter the evolution of post-starburst galaxies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	952-955
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	334
Issue number	6058
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1209850
State	Published - Nov 18 2011

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title = "The hidden mass and large spatial extent of a post-starburst galaxy outflow",

abstract = "Outflowing winds of multiphase plasma have been proposed to regulate the buildup of galaxies, but key aspects of these outflows have not been probed with observations. By using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, we show that {"}warm-hot{"} plasma at 105.5 kelvin contains 10 to 150 times more mass than the cold gas in a post-starburst galaxy wind. This wind extends to distances > 68 kiloparsecs, and at least some portion of it will escape. Moreover, the kinematical correlation of the cold and warm-hot phases indicates that the warm-hot plasma is related to the interaction of the cold matter with a hotter (unseen) phase at ≫106 kelvin. Such multiphase winds can remove substantial masses and alter the evolution of post-starburst galaxies.",

author = "Tripp, {Todd M.} and Meiring, {Joseph D.} and Prochaska, {J. Xavier} and Willmer, {Christopher N.A.} and Howk, {J. Christopher} and Werk, {Jessica K.} and Jenkins, {Edward B.} and Bowen, {David V.} and Nicolas Lehner and Sembach, {Kenneth R.} and Christopher Thom and Jason Tumlinson",

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T1 - The hidden mass and large spatial extent of a post-starburst galaxy outflow

AU - Tripp, Todd M.

AU - Meiring, Joseph D.

AU - Prochaska, J. Xavier

AU - Willmer, Christopher N.A.

AU - Howk, J. Christopher

AU - Werk, Jessica K.

AU - Jenkins, Edward B.

AU - Bowen, David V.

AU - Lehner, Nicolas

AU - Sembach, Kenneth R.

AU - Thom, Christopher

AU - Tumlinson, Jason

PY - 2011/11/18

Y1 - 2011/11/18

N2 - Outflowing winds of multiphase plasma have been proposed to regulate the buildup of galaxies, but key aspects of these outflows have not been probed with observations. By using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, we show that "warm-hot" plasma at 105.5 kelvin contains 10 to 150 times more mass than the cold gas in a post-starburst galaxy wind. This wind extends to distances > 68 kiloparsecs, and at least some portion of it will escape. Moreover, the kinematical correlation of the cold and warm-hot phases indicates that the warm-hot plasma is related to the interaction of the cold matter with a hotter (unseen) phase at ≫106 kelvin. Such multiphase winds can remove substantial masses and alter the evolution of post-starburst galaxies.

AB - Outflowing winds of multiphase plasma have been proposed to regulate the buildup of galaxies, but key aspects of these outflows have not been probed with observations. By using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, we show that "warm-hot" plasma at 105.5 kelvin contains 10 to 150 times more mass than the cold gas in a post-starburst galaxy wind. This wind extends to distances > 68 kiloparsecs, and at least some portion of it will escape. Moreover, the kinematical correlation of the cold and warm-hot phases indicates that the warm-hot plasma is related to the interaction of the cold matter with a hotter (unseen) phase at ≫106 kelvin. Such multiphase winds can remove substantial masses and alter the evolution of post-starburst galaxies.

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The hidden mass and large spatial extent of a post-starburst galaxy outflow

Abstract

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