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oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/1350862026-04-27T23:58:45Zcom_20.500.14352_14col_20.500.14352_15

Quantifying the energetics of molecular superbubbles in PHANGS galaxies Watkins, E. J. Kreckel, K. Groves, B. Glover, S. C. O. Whitmore, B. C. Leroy, A. K. Schinnerer, E. Meidt, S. E. Sánchez Blázquez, Patricia Williams, T. G. 52 52-33 ISM: bubbles Galaxies: star formation Stars: massive Molecular data Methods: observational Astrofísica 21 Astronomía y Astrofísica © The Authors 2023. Artículo firmado por 29 autores. Context. Star formation and stellar feedback are interlinked processes that redistribute energy, turbulence, and material throughout galaxies. Because young and massive stars form in spatially clustered environments, they create pockets of expanding gas termed superbubbles, which retain information about the physical processes that drive them. As these processes play a critical role in shaping galaxy discs and regulating the baryon cycle, measuring the properties of superbubbles provides important input for galaxy evolution models. Aims. With the wide coverage and high angular resolution (∼50–150 pc) of the PHANGS–ALMA ^(12)CO (J = 2−1) survey, we can now resolve, identify and characterise a statistically representative number of superbubbles using molecular gas in nearby galaxies. Methods. We identify superbubbles by requiring spatial correspondence between shells in CO with stellar populations identified in PHANGS–HST. Then, by combining the properties of the stellar populations with the CO, we quantify the energetics of the stars and constrain feedback models. We visually find 325 cavities across 18 PHANGS–ALMA galaxies, 88 of which have clear superbubble signatures (unbroken shells, central clusters, kinematic signatures of expansion). We measure their radii and expansion velocities using CO (2–1) to dynamically derive their ages and the mechanical power driving the bubbles, which we use to compute the expected properties of the parent stellar populations driving the bubbles. Results. We find consistency between the predicted and derived stellar ages and masses of the stellar populations if we use a supernova (SN) model that injects energy with a coupling efficiency of ∼10%. Not only does this confirm that molecular gas accurately traces superbubble properties, but it also provides key observational constraints for superbubble models. We also find evidence that the bubbles are sweeping up gas as they expand, and speculate that these sites have the potential to host new generations of stars. Conclusions. This work demonstrates that molecular superbubbles provide novel quantitative constraints on SNe feedback efficiencies and gas clearing times, and represent a promising environment to search for the propagation of star formation, all of which are needed to understand what sets the observed star formation rates in galaxies. European Southern Observatory under ESO programmes National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) German Research Foundation European Research Council Heidelberg Cluster of Excellence "STRUCTURES" Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (España) ANID BASAL project Macquarie University Macquarie University Depto. de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica Fac. de Ciencias Físicas TRUE pub 2026-04-27T07:55:26Z 2026-04-27T07:55:26Z 2023 journal article VoR https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/135086 0004-6361 10.1051/0004-6361/202346075 1432-0746 eng 094.C-0623 095.C-0473 098.C-0484 1100.B-0651 094.B-0321 099.B-0242 NAS 5-26555 KR4598/2-1 CH2137/1-1 714907 694343 726384/Empire 101020943 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/PID2019-107427-GB-C31/ES/ENERGETIC FEEDBACK AND STAR FORMATION IN GALAXIES/ SFB 881 138713538 EXC-2181/1 390900948 855130 1211000 FB210003 DE220100766 CE170100013 15654 Watkins, E. J., et al. «Quantifying the energetics of molecular superbubbles in PHANGS galaxies». Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 676, agosto de 2023, p. A67. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202346075. Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access application/pdf EDP Sciences