Full of Orions? dissecting extreme, dusty starbursts on (k)pc-scales

David Caro building, Level 7 conference room

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Yuxiang Qin

  • Dr Mat&uacutes Ryb&aacutek
    Dr Matús Rybák, -
    Universiteit Leiden

    Email: mrybak@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Abstract

Sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs) play a key role in the early Universe and are an important laboratory for understanding the most extreme star formation. However, our understanding of SMGs -- what drives their intense star-formation? what are the physical properties of their star-forming ISM? - requires high angular resolution, long unavailable in mm/FIR wavelengths.

The start of ALMA operations in 2011 was a quantum leap from barely resolved SMGs to kpc-scales studies, matching or even exceeding the resolution achieved for present-day galaxies. A further order-of-magnitude jump in resolution - down to ~100-parcsec scales - has been provided by strong gravitational lensing. I will showcase recent results from resolved multi-tracer (FIR, CO, C+) studies of dust and gas in z>2 SMGs at (k)pc resolution. Combining the superb angular resolution and high-frequency capabilities of ALMA, gravitational lensing and radiative transfer modelling, our results provide an unprecedented view of the conditions in these extreme star factories down to 50-pc scales .