Observational constraints on the multiphase nature of outflows using large spectroscopic surveys at z ∼ 0

Abstract

Mass outflow rates and loading factors are typically used to infer the quenching potential of galactic-scale outflows. However, these generally rely on observations of a single gas phase that can severely underestimate the total ejected gas mass. To address this, we use observations of high mass (≥1010 M⊙), normal star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0 from the MaNGA, xCOLD GASS, xGASS, and ALFALFA surveys and a stacking of Na D, Hα, CO(1- 0), and HI 21 cm tracers with the aim of placing constraints on an average, total mass outflow rate, and loading factor. We find detections of outflows in both neutral and ionized gas tracers, with no detections in stacks of molecular or atomic gas emission. Modelling of the outflow components reveals velocities of |vNa D| = 131 km s-1and |vHα| = 439 km s-1and outflow rates of ṀNa D= 7.55M⊙yr-1and ṀHα= 0.10M⊙yr-1for neutral and ionized gas, respectively. Assuming a molecular/atomic outflow velocity of 200 km s-1, we derive upper limits of ṀCO< 19.43M⊙yr-1and ṀHI< 26.72M⊙yr-1for the molecular and atomic gas, respectively. Combining the detections and upper limits, we find average total outflow rates of Ṁtot≲27M⊙yr-1and a loading factor of ηtot≲ 6.39, with molecular gas likely contributing ≲72 per cent of the total mass outflow rate, and neutral and ionized gas contributing ∼28 and <1 per cent, respectively. Our results suggest that, to first order, a degree of quenching via ejective feedback could occur in normal galaxies when considering all gas phases, even in the absence of an active galactic nucleus.