GBT19A-240

HI Observations of Very Low Surface Brightness Galaxies from the HSC Survey

Abstract

We propose to observe the HI in 56 very low surface brightness galaxies (vLSBs) that were detected in the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program. vLSBs are a cosmologically significant population of galaxies, yet are not well understood: such galaxies appear to have effective radii similar to the Milky Way, yet very small stellar masses. To date, only 8 of the 781 vLSBs in the Hyper Suprime-Cam sample have measured distances. Our goal is to determine redshift distances to a carefully selected subset of vLSB galaxies likely to have HI and to be in the field. Based on HI scaling relations, we expect to detect roughly 70% of our targets. This represents nearly a five-fold increase in the number of known redshifts for such galaxies with a modest investment of observing time compared with optical spectroscopy. In addition, HI gas fractions and masses will be used to probe their star formation histories and line widths will be used to probe rotation and dark matter content. These measurements will constrain the cosmic number density and formation models for this enigmatic population of vLSB galaxies in low density environments.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Lukas Leisman *	Cornell University; Valparaiso University
D.J. Pisano	Cape Town, University of
Katherine Rabidoux	West Virginia University; Wisconsin-Platteville, University of
Evan (old) Smith	Green Bank Observatory; West Virginia University
Rebecca Koopmann	Union College
Joseph Ribaudo	Providence College
Jenny Greene	Princeton University
Johnny Greco	Ohio State University; Princeton University
MIchael Strauss	Princeton University
Martha Haynes	Cornell University
Jessica Rosenberg	George Mason University
David Craig	West Texas A&M University
Gregory Hallenbeck	Cornell University; Union College
Aileen O'Donoghue	St. Lawrence University
Grant Denn	Denver, Metropolitan State University of
Andy Goulding	Princeton University
Adriana Durbala	Wisconsin-Stevens Point, University of
Song Huang	California at Santa Cruz, University of

* indicates the PI