The Atomic Gas Mass of Green Pea Galaxies

Abstract We have used the Arecibo Telescope and Green Bank (GBT) to carry out a deep search for H i 21 cm emission from large sample of “Green Pea” galaxies, yielding 19 detections, upper limits on mass. obtain masses M ≈ (4–300) × 10 8 ⊙ with median mass 2.6 9 ; non-detections, 3 σ limit is 5.5 . These are first estimates atomic gas content Pea galaxies. find that -to-stellar ratio in Peas consistent trends identified star-forming galaxies local universe. However, depletion timescale ≈0.6 Gyr, an order magnitude lower than obtained This implies consume their very short timescales. A significant fraction our lie ≳0.6 dex (2 ) above – B relation, suggesting recent accretion. Further, ≈30% more ±2 deviant this possible bimodality population. low detection rate highest O32 ≡ [O iii ] λ 5007/[O ii 3727 luminosity ratios, > 10, high expected Lyman-continuum leakage these