xCOLD GASS: an IRAM legacy survey
CO(1-0) in 532 mass-selected galaxies
xCOLD GASS provides a uniquely complete view of the molecular gas contents of galaxies in the local Universe: the sample of 532 SDSS-selected galaxies probes the entire SFR-mass plane with M∗>109 M⊙
The data show how the molecular gas mass fraction (fh2=MH2/M∗) varies as a function of specific star formation rate, and how it naturally explains the shape and position of the star-formation main sequence.
Because of the homogeneous data products and large, complete sample, xCOLD GASS is also the perfect reference sample for models and simulations, and for observational studies of specific galaxy samples.
The full xCOLD GASS sample in the star formation-mass plane. Those galaxies with a detection of the CO(1-0) line are
shown colour-coded by their molecular gas mass fraction. For comparison, the gray contours are the underlying complete SDSS population and
the solide line highlights the position of the main sequence.
For more details about xCOLD GASS science, see our publications.