The molecular content of interacting and isolated galaxies The effect of environment on the efficiency of star formation
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Abstract
The authors have observed CO emission in 26 galaxies - 13 isolated galaxies and 13 mergers or interacting pairs. The molecular cloud content of both galaxy subsamples is similar, based upon similar ratios of blue luminosity to molecular hydrogen mass derived from CO observations. However, the dust temperatures in the isolated galaxies are substantially lower than those in the interacting galaxies. The mean value of LIR/M(H2) is 12 L_sun;/M_sun; in the isolated galaxies, and 78 L_sun;/M_sun; in the interacting galaxies. This ratio can be interpreted as a measure of the star formation efficiency in molecular clouds. One physical process which may cause a higher star formation efficiency in interacting galaxies is an increase in the rate of cloud-cloud collisions.