Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane

We analyzed the global and resolved properties of approximately 1240 nearby star-forming galaxies from the MaNGA survey, comparing compact and extended galaxies—those with smaller and larger radii ( R _e ), respectively—at a fixed stellar mass ( M _* ). Compact galaxies typically exhibit lower H i g...

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Main Authors: Lin Lin, Shiyin Shen, Hassen M. Yesuf, Ye-Wei Mao, Lei Hao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad8a61
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author Lin Lin
Shiyin Shen
Hassen M. Yesuf
Ye-Wei Mao
Lei Hao
author_facet Lin Lin
Shiyin Shen
Hassen M. Yesuf
Ye-Wei Mao
Lei Hao
author_sort Lin Lin
collection DOAJ
description We analyzed the global and resolved properties of approximately 1240 nearby star-forming galaxies from the MaNGA survey, comparing compact and extended galaxies—those with smaller and larger radii ( R _e ), respectively—at a fixed stellar mass ( M _* ). Compact galaxies typically exhibit lower H i gas fractions, higher dust extinction, higher metallicity, greater mass concentration, and lower angular momentum on a global scale. Radial profiles of stellar mass surface density (Σ _* ) and star formation rate surface density (Σ _SFR ) as functions of the effective radius ( R / R _e ) reveal that compact galaxies display steeper gradients and higher values, resulting in elevated specific star formation rates (sSFRs) in their inner regions compared to their outskirts. At a given Σ _* , compact galaxies have higher sSFRs than extended galaxies, particularly in low-mass galaxies (log( M _* / M _⊙ ) ≤ 10 ^10 ). Additionally, their metallicity profiles differ significantly: extended galaxies have steeper metallicity gradients, while compact galaxies exhibit flatter slopes and higher metallicity at a given R / R _e . After accounting for the dependence of metallicity on M _* and Σ _* , no further correlation with SFR is observed. The combination of higher sSFR and potentially higher star formation efficiency in compact galaxies suggests that their central gas is being rapidly consumed, leading to older stellar populations, as indicated by D _n (4000) and EW(H δ _A ), and resulting in faster central growth. Our results reveal that radial SFR profiles cannot be fully determined by M _* and Σ _* alone; other factors, such as galaxy size or angular momentum, must be considered to fully understand the observed trends.
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spelling doaj-art-cb668be0c6844dce8bf7b339774c727d2025-08-20T01:59:01ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572024-01-01977217510.3847/1538-4357/ad8a61Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size PlaneLin Lin0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1138-8146Shiyin Shen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3073-5871Hassen M. Yesuf2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4176-9145Ye-Wei Mao3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7349-9784Lei Hao4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2478-9723Shanghai Astronomical Observatory , 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; linlin@shao.ac.cnShanghai Astronomical Observatory , 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; linlin@shao.ac.cn; Key Lab for Astrophysics , Shanghai, 200034, People's Republic of ChinaShanghai Astronomical Observatory , 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; linlin@shao.ac.cnCenter for Astrophysics, GuangZhou University , GuangZhou 510006, People's Republic of China; Department of Astronomy, School of Physics and Materials Science, Guangzhou University , GuangZhou 510006, People's Republic of ChinaShanghai Astronomical Observatory , 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; linlin@shao.ac.cnWe analyzed the global and resolved properties of approximately 1240 nearby star-forming galaxies from the MaNGA survey, comparing compact and extended galaxies—those with smaller and larger radii ( R _e ), respectively—at a fixed stellar mass ( M _* ). Compact galaxies typically exhibit lower H i gas fractions, higher dust extinction, higher metallicity, greater mass concentration, and lower angular momentum on a global scale. Radial profiles of stellar mass surface density (Σ _* ) and star formation rate surface density (Σ _SFR ) as functions of the effective radius ( R / R _e ) reveal that compact galaxies display steeper gradients and higher values, resulting in elevated specific star formation rates (sSFRs) in their inner regions compared to their outskirts. At a given Σ _* , compact galaxies have higher sSFRs than extended galaxies, particularly in low-mass galaxies (log( M _* / M _⊙ ) ≤ 10 ^10 ). Additionally, their metallicity profiles differ significantly: extended galaxies have steeper metallicity gradients, while compact galaxies exhibit flatter slopes and higher metallicity at a given R / R _e . After accounting for the dependence of metallicity on M _* and Σ _* , no further correlation with SFR is observed. The combination of higher sSFR and potentially higher star formation efficiency in compact galaxies suggests that their central gas is being rapidly consumed, leading to older stellar populations, as indicated by D _n (4000) and EW(H δ _A ), and resulting in faster central growth. Our results reveal that radial SFR profiles cannot be fully determined by M _* and Σ _* alone; other factors, such as galaxy size or angular momentum, must be considered to fully understand the observed trends.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad8a61Galactic and extragalactic astronomy
spellingShingle Lin Lin
Shiyin Shen
Hassen M. Yesuf
Ye-Wei Mao
Lei Hao
Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
The Astrophysical Journal
Galactic and extragalactic astronomy
title Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
title_full Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
title_fullStr Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
title_full_unstemmed Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
title_short Radial Profiles of Σ*, ΣSFR, Gas Metallicity, and Their Correlations across the Galactic Mass–Size Plane
title_sort radial profiles of σ σsfr gas metallicity and their correlations across the galactic mass size plane
topic Galactic and extragalactic astronomy
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad8a61
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