$H_2$ Formation from HI by the Ram Pressure

Ram pressure is known as one of the most efficient mechanisms to deplete the atomic gas of galaxies in the cluster environment. However, the influence of the ram pressure on the molecular gas is not yet clear. Since the molecular gas resides in the galactic center, thus in the deeper potential well, and has higher surface density than the atomic hydrogen, it has been known as that the molecular gas is not easily affected and/or stripped away by the ICM-ISM interaction. To investigate the influence of the ram pressure on the gas properties of galaxies, we compare HI and $^{12}CO$(J=1-0) distribution of NGC 4654 which is experiencing on-going ram pressure and shows distinct HI, CO, optical, and $H_2$ features due to the ram pressure. We discuss the possibilities of H2 formation from HI by the ram pressure and also the star formation activities.