scholarly journals Modeling ionized gas in low-metallicity environments: the Local Group dwarf galaxy IC 10

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A119 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Polles ◽  
S. C. Madden ◽  
V. Lebouteiller ◽  
D. Cormier ◽  
N. Abel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Stellar Cluster ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Formation Activity ◽  
Ic 10 ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Ionization Parameter

Context. Star formation activity is an important driver of galaxy evolution and is influenced by the physical properties of the interstellar medium. Dwarf galaxies allow us to understand how the propagation of radiation and the physical conditions of the different ISM phases are affected by the low-metallicity environment. Aims. Our objective is to investigate the physical properties of the ionized gas of the low-metallicity dwarf galaxy, IC 10, at various spatial scales: from individual H II regions to the entire galaxy scale and examine whether diagnostics for integrated measurements introduce bias in the results. Methods. We modeled the ionized gas combining the mid- and far-infrared fine-structure cooling lines observed with Spitzer/IRS and Herschel/PACS, with the photoionization code CLOUDY. The free parameters of the models are the age of the stellar cluster, the density, and the ionization parameter of the ionized gas as well as the depth of the cloud. The latter is used to investigate the leakage of the ionizing photons from the analyzed regions of IC 10. We investigated H II regions in the main star-forming body, on scales of ~25 pc, three in the main star-forming region in the center of the galaxy and two on the first arc. We then considered larger sizes on the scale of ~200 pc. Results. Most clumps have almost-identical properties, density ~102–102.6 cm−3, ionization parameter between 10−2.2 and 10−1.6, and age of the stellar cluster ~5.5 Myr. All of them are matter-bounded regions, allowing ionizing photons to leak. The relatively uniform physical properties of the clumps suggest a common origin for their star formation activity, which could be related to the feedback from stellar winds or supernovae of a previous generation of stars. The properties derived for ~200 pc size “zones” have similar properties as the H II regions they encompass, but with the larger regions tending to be more radiation bounded. Finally, we investigated the fraction of [CII] 157.7 μm, [SiII] 34.8 μm and [FeII] 25.9 μm emission arising from the ionized gas phase and we find that most of the emission originates from the neutral gas, not from the ionized gas.

scholarly journals The Herschel Dwarf Galaxy Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A23 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Cormier ◽  
N. P. Abel ◽  
S. Hony ◽  
V. Lebouteiller ◽  
S. C. Madden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Spectral Synthesis ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Gas Phases ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Radiation Fields ◽  
Low Metallicity

The sensitive infrared telescopes, Spitzer and Herschel, have been used to target low-metallicity star-forming galaxies, allowing us to investigate the properties of their interstellar medium (ISM) in unprecedented detail. Interpretation of the observations in physical terms relies on careful modeling of those properties. We have employed a multiphase approach to model the ISM phases (H II region and photodissociation region) with the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. Our goal is to characterize the physical conditions (gas densities, radiation fields, etc.) in the ISM of the galaxies from the Herschel Dwarf Galaxy Survey. We are particularly interested in correlations between those physical conditions and metallicity or star-formation activity. Other key issues we have addressed are the contribution of different ISM phases to the total line emission, especially of the [C II]157 μm line, and the characterization of the porosity of the ISM. We find that the lower-metallicity galaxies of our sample tend to have higher ionization parameters and galaxies with higher specific star-formation rates have higher gas densities. The [C II] emission arises mainly from PDRs and the contribution from the ionized gas phases is small, typically less than 30% of the observed emission. We also find a correlation – though with scatter – between metallicity and both the PDR covering factor and the fraction of [C II] from the ionized gas. Overall, the low metal abundances appear to be driving most of the changes in the ISM structure and conditions of these galaxies, and not the high specific star-formation rates. These results demonstrate in a quantitative way the increase of ISM porosity at low metallicity. Such porosity may be typical of galaxies in the young Universe.

scholarly journals Tracing the total molecular gas in galaxies: [CII] and the CO-dark gas

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A141 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Madden ◽  
D. Cormier ◽  
S. Hony ◽  
V. Lebouteiller ◽  
N. Abel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Conversion Factor ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Forming Efficiency ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Co Observations

Context. Molecular gas is a necessary fuel for star formation. The CO (1−0) transition is often used to deduce the total molecular hydrogen but is challenging to detect in low-metallicity galaxies in spite of the star formation taking place. In contrast, the [C II]λ158 μm is relatively bright, highlighting a potentially important reservoir of H2 that is not traced by CO (1−0) but is residing in the C+-emitting regions. Aims. Here we aim to explore a method to quantify the total H2 mass (MH2) in galaxies and to decipher what parameters control the CO-dark reservoir. Methods. We present Cloudy grids of density, radiation field, and metallicity in terms of observed quantities, such as [O I], [C I], CO (1−0), [C II], LTIR, and the total MH2. We provide recipes based on these models to derive total MH2 mass estimates from observations. We apply the models to the Herschel Dwarf Galaxy Survey, extracting the total MH2 for each galaxy, and compare this to the H2 determined from the observed CO (1−0) line. This allows us to quantify the reservoir of H2 that is CO-dark and traced by the [C II]λ158 μm. Results. We demonstrate that while the H2 traced by CO (1−0) can be negligible, the [C II]λ158 μm can trace the total H2. We find 70 to 100% of the total H2 mass is not traced by CO (1−0) in the dwarf galaxies, but is well-traced by [C II]λ158 μm. The CO-dark gas mass fraction correlates with the observed L[C II]/LCO(1−0) ratio. A conversion factor for [C II]λ158 μm to total H2 and a new CO-to-total-MH2 conversion factor as a function of metallicity are presented. Conclusions. While low-metallicity galaxies may have a feeble molecular reservoir as surmised from CO observations, the presence of an important reservoir of molecular gas that is not detected by CO can exist. We suggest a general recipe to quantify the total mass of H2 in galaxies, taking into account the CO and [C II] observations. Accounting for this CO-dark H2 gas, we find that the star-forming dwarf galaxies now fall on the Schmidt–Kennicutt relation. Their star-forming efficiency is rather normal because the reservoir from which they form stars is now more massive when introducing the [C II] measures of the total H2 compared to the small amount of H2 in the CO-emitting region.

scholarly journals The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Nature, ISM properties, and ionizing spectra of CIII]λ1909 emitters at z = 2–4

2018 ◽  
Vol 612 ◽  
pp. A94 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Nakajima ◽  
D. Schaerer ◽  
O. Le Fèvre ◽  
R. Amorín ◽  
M. Talia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Radiation Field ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Uv Emission ◽  
Distant Galaxies ◽  
Deep Survey ◽  
Ionization Parameter ◽  
Large Grid

Context. Ultraviolet (UV) emission-line spectra are used to spectroscopically confirm high-z galaxies and increasingly also to determine their physical properties. Aims. We construct photoionization models to interpret the observed UV spectra of distant galaxies in terms of the dominant radiation field and the physical condition of the interstellar medium (ISM). These models are applied to new spectroscopic observations from the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS). Methods. We construct a large grid of photoionization models, which use several incident radiation fields (stellar populations, active galactic nuclei (AGNs), mix of stars and AGNs, blackbodies, and others), and cover a wide range of metallicities and ionization parameters. From these models we derive new spectral UV line diagnostics using equivalent widths (EWs) of [CIII]λ1909 doublet, CIVλ1549 doublet and the line ratios of [CIII], CIV, and He IIλ1640 recombination lines. We apply these diagnostics to a sample of 450 [CIII]-emitting galaxies at redshifts z = 2–4 previously identified in VUDS. Results. We demonstrate that our photoionization models successfully reproduce observations of nearby and high-redshift sources with known radiation field and/or metallicity. For star-forming galaxies our models predict that [CIII] EW peaks at sub-solar metallicities, whereas CIV EW peaks at even lower metallicity. Using the UV diagnostics, we show that the average star-forming galaxy (EW([CIII]) ~ 2 Å) based on the composite of the 450 UV-selected galaxies’ spectra The inferred metallicity and ionization parameter is typically Z = 0.3–0.5 Z⊙ and logU = −2.7 to − 3, in agreement with earlier works at similar redshifts. The models also indicate an average age of 50–200 Myr since the beginning of the current star-formation, and an ionizing photon production rate, ξion, of logξion/erg−1 Hz = 25.3–25.4. Among the sources with EW([CIII]) >= 10 Å, approximately 30% are likely dominated by AGNs. The metallicity derived for galaxies with EW(CIII) = 10–20 Å is low, Z = 0.02–0.2 Z⊙, and the ionization parameter higher (logU ~−1.7) than the average star-forming galaxy. To explain the average UV observations of the strongest but rarest [CIII] emitters (EW([CIII]) > 20 Å), we find that stellar photoionization is clearly insufficient. A radiation field consisting of a mix of a young stellar population (logξion/erg−1 Hz ~ 25.7) plus an AGN component is required. Furthermore an enhanced C/O abundance ratio (up to the solar value) is needed for metallicities Z = 0.1–0.2 Z⊙ and logU = −1.7 to − 1.5. Conclusions. A large grid of photoionization models has allowed us to propose new diagnostic diagrams to classify the nature of the ionizing radiation field (star formation or AGN) of distant galaxies using UV emission lines, and to constrain their ISM properties. We have applied this grid to a sample of [CIII]-emitting galaxies at z = 2–4 detected in VUDS, finding a range of physical properties and clear evidence for significant AGN contribution in rare sources with very strong [CIII] emission. The UV diagnostics we propose should also serve as an important basis for the interpretation of upcoming observations of high-redshift galaxies.

scholarly journals DeGaS-MC: Dense Gas Survey in the Magellanic Clouds

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A63
Author(s):  
M. Galametz ◽  
A. Schruba ◽  
C. De Breuck ◽  
K. Immer ◽  
M. Chevance ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Dense Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Precise Knowledge ◽  
Star Formation Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low Metallicity

Context. Understanding the star-forming processes is key to understanding the evolution of galaxies. Investigating star formation requires precise knowledge of the properties of the dense molecular gas complexes where stars form and a quantification of how they are affected by the physical conditions to which they are exposed. The proximity, low metallicity, and wide range of star formation activity of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) make them prime laboratories to study how local physical conditions impact the dense gas reservoirs and their star formation efficiency. Aims. The aim of the Dense Gas Survey for the Magellanic Clouds (DeGaS-MC) project is to expand our knowledge of the relation between dense gas properties and star formation activity by targeting the LMC and SMC observed in the HCO+(2−1) and HCN(2−1) transitions. Methods. We carried out a pointing survey targeting two lines toward ∼30 LMC and SMC molecular clouds using the SEPIA180 instrument installed on the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) telescope. We performed a follow-up mapping campaign of the emission in the same transition in 13 star-forming regions. This first paper provides line characteristic catalogs and integrated line-intensity maps of the sources. Results. HCO+(2−1) is detected in 20 and HCN(2−1) in 8 of the 29 pointings observed. The dense gas velocity pattern follows the line-of-sight velocity field derived from the stellar population. The three SMC sources targeted during the mapping campaign were unfortunately not detected in our mapping campaign but both lines are detected toward the LMC 30Dor, N44, N105, N113, N159W, N159E, and N214 regions. The HCN emission is less extended than the HCO+ emission and is restricted to the densest regions. The HCO+(2−1)/HCN(2−1) brightness temperature ratios range from 1 to 7, which is consistent with the large ratios commonly observed in low-metallicity environments. A larger number of young stellar objects are found at high HCO+ intensities and lower HCO+/HCN flux ratios, and thus toward denser lines of sight. The dense gas luminosities correlate with the star formation rate traced by the total infrared luminosity over the two orders of magnitude covered by our observations, although substantial region-to-region variations are observed.

scholarly journals Survival of molecular gas in a stellar feedback-driven outflow witnessed with the MUSE TIMER project and ALMA

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 3904-3928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Leaman ◽  
Francesca Fragkoudi ◽  
Miguel Querejeta ◽  
Gigi Y C Leung ◽  
Dimitri A Gadotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Field Lines

ABSTRACT Stellar feedback plays a significant role in modulating star formation, redistributing metals, and shaping the baryonic and dark structure of galaxies – however, the efficiency of its energy deposition to the interstellar medium is challenging to constrain observationally. Here we leverage HST and ALMA imaging of a molecular gas and dust shell ($M_{\mathrm{ H}_2} \sim 2\times 10^{5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) in an outflow from the nuclear star-forming ring of the galaxy NGC 3351, to serve as a boundary condition for a dynamical and energetic analysis of the outflowing ionized gas seen in our MUSE TIMER survey. We use starburst99 models and prescriptions for feedback from simulations to demonstrate that the observed star formation energetics can reproduce the ionized and molecular gas dynamics – provided a dominant component of the momentum injection comes from direct photon pressure from young stars, on top of supernovae, photoionization heating, and stellar winds. The mechanical energy budget from these sources is comparable to low luminosity active galactic neuclei, suggesting that stellar feedback can be a relevant driver of bulk gas motions in galaxy centres – although here ≲10−3 of the ionized gas mass is escaping the galaxy. We test several scenarios for the survival/formation of the cold gas in the outflow, including in situ condensation and cooling. Interestingly, the geometry of the molecular gas shell, observed magnetic field strengths and emission line diagnostics are consistent with a scenario where magnetic field lines aided survival of the dusty ISM as it was initially launched (with mass-loading factor ≲1) from the ring by stellar feedback. This system’s unique feedback-driven morphology can hopefully serve as a useful litmus test for feedback prescriptions in magnetohydrodynamical galaxy simulations.

scholarly journals The ionization parameter of star-forming galaxies evolves with the specific star formation rate

2018 ◽  
Vol 477 (4) ◽  
pp. 5568-5589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Kaasinen ◽  
Lisa Kewley ◽  
Fuyan Bian ◽  
Brent Groves ◽  
Daichi Kashino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Ionization Parameter

scholarly journals SDSS J114818.18-013823.7: Forming Compact Dwarf Galaxy through the Dwarf-Dwarf Merger

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
D. N. Chhatkuli ◽  
S. Paudel ◽  
A. K. Gautam ◽  
B. Aryal
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Absolute Magnitude ◽  
Spectroscopic Properties ◽  
Normal Galaxies ◽  
Star Formation Activity ◽  
The Galaxy

We studied the spectroscopic properties of the low redshift (z = 0.0130) interacting dwarf galaxy SDSS J114818.18-013823.7. It is a compact galaxy of half-light radius 521 parsec. It’s r-band absolute magnitude is -16.71 mag. Using a publicly available optical spectrum from the Sloan Sky Survey data archive, we calculated star-formation rate, emission line metallicity, and dust extinction of the galaxy. Star formation rate (SFR) due to Hα is found to be 0.118 Mʘ year-1 after extinction correction. The emission-line metallicity, 12+log(O/H), is 8.13 dex. Placing these values in the scaling relation of normal galaxies, we find that SDSS J114818.18-013823.7 is a significant outlier from both size-magnitude relation and SFR-B-band absolute relation. Although SDSS J114818.18-013823.7 possess enhance rate of star-formation, the current star-formation activity can persist several Giga years in the future at the current place and it remains compact.

scholarly journals Low Metallicity Galaxies at z ~ 0.7: Keys to the Origins of Metallicity Scaling Laws

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S255) ◽  
pp. 397-401
Author(s):  
David J. Rosario ◽  
Carlos Hoyos ◽  
David Koo ◽  
Andrew Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Emission Line Galaxies ◽  
Halo Masses ◽  
Stellar Masses

AbstractWe present a study of remarkably luminous and unique dwarf galaxies at redshifts of 0.5 < z < 0.7, selected from the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift survey by the presence of the temperature sensitive [OIII]λ4363 emission line. Measurements of this important auroral line, as well as other strong oxygen lines, allow us to estimate the integrated oxygen abundances of these galaxies accurately without being subject to the degeneracy inherent in the standard R23 system used by most studies. [O/H] estimates range between 1/5–1/10 of the solar value. Not surprisingly, these systems are exceedingly rare and hence represent a population that is not typically present in local surveys such as SDSS, or smaller volume deep surveys such as GOODS.Our low-metallicity galaxies exhibit many unprecedented characteristics. With B-band luminosities close to L*, thse dwarfs lie significantly away from the luminosity-metallicity relationships of both local and intermediate redshift star-forming galaxies. Using stellar masses determined from optical and NIR photometry, we show that they also deviate strongly from corresponding mass-metallicity relationships. Their specific star formation rates are high, implying a significant burst of recent star formation. A campaign of high resolution spectroscopic follow-up shows that our galaxies have dynamical properties similar to local HII and compact emission line galaxies, but mass-to-light ratios that are much higher than average star-forming dwarfs.The low metallicities, high specific star formation rates, and small halo masses of our galaxies mark them as lower redshift analogs of Lyman-Break galaxies, which, at z ~ 2 are evolving onto the metallicity sequence that we observe in the galaxy population of today. In this sense, these systems offer fundamental insights into the physical processes and regulatory mechanisms that drive galaxy evolution in that epoch of major star formation and stellar mass assembly.

scholarly journals Observations of the Lyman-α Universe

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 617-659
Author(s):  
Masami Ouchi ◽  
Yoshiaki Ono ◽  
Takatoshi Shibuya
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Resonant Scattering ◽  
Dark Matter Halo ◽  
Emission Data ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
High Redshift Universe

Hydrogen Lyman-α (Lyα) emission has been one of the major observational probes for the high-redshift Universe since the first discoveries of high- z Lyα-emitting galaxies in the late 1990s. Due to the strong Lyα emission originated by resonant scattering and recombination of the most abundant element, Lyα observations witness not only Hii regions of star formation and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) but also diffuse Hi gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and the intergalactic medium (IGM). Here, we review Lyα sources and present theoretical interpretations reached to date. We conclude the following: ▪  A typical Lyα emitter (LAE) at z ≳ 2 with a L* Lyα luminosity is a high- z counterpart of a local dwarf galaxy, a compact metal-poor star-forming galaxy (SFG) with an approximate stellar (dark matter halo) mass and star-formation rate of 108−9M⊙ (1010−11M⊙) and 1–10 M⊙ year−1, respectively. ▪  High- z SFGs ubiquitously have a diffuse Lyα-emitting halo in the CGM extending to the halo virial radius and beyond. ▪  Remaining neutral hydrogen at the epoch of cosmic reionization makes a strong dimming of Lyα emission for galaxies at z > 6 that suggests the late reionization history. The next-generation large-telescope projects will combine Lyα emission data with Hi Lyα absorptions and 21-cm radio data that map out the majority of hydrogen (Hi+Hii) gas, uncovering the exchanges of ( a) matter by outflow and inflow and ( b) radiation, relevant to cosmic reionization, between galaxies and the CGM/IGM.

Gas dynamics and star formation in “isolated” and interacting galaxies using FP observations

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S353) ◽  
pp. 264-265
Author(s):  
Isaura Fuentes-Carrera ◽  
Nelli Cárdenas-Martínez ◽  
Martín Nava-Callejas ◽  
Margarita Rosado
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Gas Dynamics ◽  
Equal Mass ◽  
Interacting Galaxies ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Gas Kinematics ◽  
Fabry Perot ◽  
Different Types

AbstractWe present scanning Fabry-Perot observations of different types of star-forming galaxies from apparently isolated LIRGs to equal mass interacting galaxies. We analyze the ionized gas kinematics, its relation with the morphology of each system and the location of SF regions for different systems.

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