Star Formation On Sub-kpc Scale Triggered By Non-linear Processes In Nearby Spiral Galaxies

Understand

We report a super-linear correlation for the star formation law based on new CO($J$=1-0) data from the CARMA and NOBEYAMA Nearby-galaxies (CANON) CO survey.

• The sample includes 10 nearby spiral galaxies, in which structures at sub-kpc scales are spatially resolved.
• Combined with the star formation rate surface density traced by H$\alpha$ and 24 $\mu$m images, CO($J$=1-0) data provide a super-linear slope of $N$ = 1.3.
• The slope becomes even steeper ($N$ = 1.8) when the diffuse stellar and dust background emission is subtracted from the H$\alpha$ and 24 $\mu$m images.