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Register a new userWhy is the Milky Way X-factor Constant?
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Desika Narayanan
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The CO-H2 conversion factor (Xco; otherwise known as the X-factor) is observed to be remarkably constant in the Milky Way and in the Local Group (aside from the SMC). To date, our understanding of why Xco should be so constant remains poor. Using a combination of extremely high resolution (~ 1 pc) galaxy evolution simulations and molecular line radiative transfer calculations, we suggest that Xco displays a narrow range of values in the Galaxy due to the fact that molecular clouds share very similar physical properties. In our models, this is itself a consequence of stellar feedback competing against gravitational collapse. GMCs whose lifetimes are regulated by radiative feedback show a narrow range of surface densities, temperatures and velocity dispersions with values comparable to those seen in the Milky Way. As a result, the X-factors from these clouds show reasonable correspondence with observed data from the Local Group, and a relatively narrow range. On the other hand, feedback-free clouds collapse to surface densities that are larger than those seen in the Galaxy, and hence result in X-factors that are systematically too large compared to the Milky Ways. We conclude that radiative feedback within GMCs can generate cloud properties similar to those observed in the Galaxy, and hence a roughly constant Milky Way X-factor in normal, quiescent clouds.
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Studying our Galaxy, the Milky Way (MW), gives us a close-up view of the interplay between cosmology, dark matter, and galaxy formation. In the next decade our understanding of the MWs dynamics, stellar populations, and structure will undergo a revolution thanks to planned and proposed astrometric, spectroscopic and photometric surveys, building on recent advances by the Gaia astrometric survey. Together, these new efforts will measure three-dimensional positions and velocities and numerous chemical abundances for stars to the MWs edge and well into the Local Group, leading to a complete multidimensional view of our Galaxy. Studies of the multidimensional Milky Way beyond the Gaia frontier---from the edge of the Galactic disk to the edge of our Galaxys dark matter halo---will unlock new scientific advances across astrophysics, from constraints on dark matter to insights into galaxy formation.
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