The Radial Distribution of the HI and H2 in Early-Type Galaxies at High Spatial Resolution

Abstract

Early type galaxies (ETGs), the most common type of galaxy observed, has been well documented to have larger amounts of cold gas and star formation than expected. Cold gas (HI and H2), the main fuel for star formation, and how it is distributed within ETGs remain unclear due to low resolution observations and their comparatively dimmer brightness compared to spirals (LTGs). Due to this, ETGs were historically difficult to obtain the high sensitivity resolutions needed to understand their cold gas distribution. To date, this thesis presents the highest resolution observations (∼ 11.5′′) for ETGs in a diverse range of sizes, environments, and morphologies. Our results show that the average surface density transition for ETGs was about 10.7 M⊙/pc2 at an average radius of 15.9′′. Tentatively, environment may play a role in the amount of cold gas an ETG can hold. All data products created for this project will be made publicly available once complete.