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Cited by 85Astrophysics and Star Formation StudiesGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaAstrophysical Phenomena and Observations

The life cycle of the Central Molecular Zone – I. Inflow, star formation, and winds

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Armillotta, Lucia, Krumholz, Mark R, Di Teodoro, Enrico M, McClure-Griffiths, N M·2019·Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
DOI 10.1093/mnras/stz2880
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Abstract

We present a study of the gas cycle and star formation history in the central 500 pc of the Milky Way, known as Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). Through hydrodynamical simulations of the inner 4.5 kpc of our Galaxy, we follow the gas cycle in a completely self-consistent way, starting from gas radial inflow due to the Galactic bar, the channelling of this gas into a dense, star-forming ring/stream at ≈200–300 pc from the Galactic centre, and the launching of galactic outflows powered by stellar feedback. We find that star formation activity in the CMZ goes through oscillatory burst/quench cycles, with a period of tens to hundreds of Myr, characterized by roughly constant gas mass but order-of-magnitude level variations in the star formation rate. Comparison with the observed present-day star formation rate of the CMZ suggests that we are currently near a minimum of this cycle. Stellar feedback drives a mainly two-phase wind off the Galactic disc. The warm phase dominates the mass flux, and carries $100\!-\!200{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the gas mass converted into stars. However, most of this gas goes into a fountain and falls back on to the disc rather than escaping the Galaxy. The hot phase carries most of the energy, with a time-averaged energy outflow rate of $10\!-\!20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the supernova energy budget.

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Crossref · 10.1093/mnras/stz2880

Cites

94 of 94 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The stellar disc is thought to have formed from multiple episodes of star formation at the CMZ itself.

    “The stellar disc is thought to have formed from multiple episodes of star formation at the CMZ itself (Armillotta et al. 2019; Sormani et al. 2020b).”

    From The Fermi/eROSITA bubbles: a look into the nuclear outflow from the Milky Way (2024) · cites this paper as Armillotta et al. 2019

    Section 4.1 (p. 16) describes repeated bursts and quenching of star formation in the CMZ, supporting the claim's reference to multiple episodes there. But the paper does not say those episodes formed the stellar disc; Section 2.1.1 (p. 3) instead treats the stellar disc as an assumed component of the simulation's gravitational potential. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Detailed dynamical modeling suggests the gas accumulation time for the Milky-Way CMZ is about ~10-50 Myr, representing the expected time scale between two star-formation events, with each event lasting for a dynamical time of a few Myr at the CMZ.

    “Detailed dynamical modeling suggests that the gas accumulation time for the Milky-Way CMZis about ∼ 10 -50 Myr which represents the expected time scale between two star-formation events, with each event lasting for a dynamical time of a few Myr at the CMZ (Kruijssen et al. 2014; Krumholz et al. 2017; Armillotta et al. 2019, 2020; Sormani et al. 2020b).”

    From The Fermi/eROSITA bubbles: a look into the nuclear outflow from the Milky Way (2024) · cites this paper as Armillotta et al. 2019

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • This rate of star formation and time scale are consistent with the expected amplitude and periodicity of star formation at the CMZ.

    “Note that this rate of star formation and the time scale are consistent with the expected amplitude and periodicity of star formation at the CMZ (Krumholz et al. 2017; Armillotta et al. 2019, 2020; Sormani et al. 2022).”

    From The Fermi/eROSITA bubbles: a look into the nuclear outflow from the Milky Way (2024) · cites this paper as Armillotta et al. 2019

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Chabrier G., 2005, in Corbelli E., Palla F., Zinnecker H., eds, Astrophysics and Space Science Library Vol. 327, The Initial Mass Function 50 Years Later. p. 41 ( arXiv:astroph/0409465 ), doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-3407-7 5 · DOI

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Authors
Armillotta, L., Krumholz, M. R., Di Teodoro, E. M., & McClure-Griffiths, N. M.
Affiliations
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics – The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2611, Australia
Corresponding author
Armillotta, Lucia
ORCID
Venue
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2019-10-12
Volume
490
Issue
3
Pages
4401-4418
ISSN
  • 0035-8711 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2966
DOI
10.1093/mnras/stz2880
OpenAlex
W2942540565
Cited by
85
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 4
FWCI
6.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
Locations
  • Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Florence Research (University of Florence) (submittedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • Australian Government (jh2)
  • Australian Research Council (DP190101258, FT180100375, DP160100723, FT150100024)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Keywords
Central Molecular Zone, Milky Way, gas inflow, galactic bars, star formation history, galactic outflows, stellar feedback, supernova feedback, Galactic fountain, gas cycle, fluid simulation

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