Global velocity field and bubbles in the BCD Mrk86

We have studied the velocity field of the Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy Mrk86 (NGC2537) using data provided by 14 long-slit optical spectra. This kinematical information is complemented with narrow-band ([OIII]5007A and Halpha) and broad-band (B, V, Gunn-r and K) imaging. The analysis of the galaxy global velocity field suggests that the ionized gas could be distributed in a rotating inclined disk, with projected central angular velocity of Omega=34 km/s/kpc. The comparison between the stellar, HI and modeled dark matter density profile, indicates that the total mass within its optical radius is dominated by the stellar component. Peculiarities observed in its velocity field can be explained by irregularities in the ionized gas distribution or local motions induced by star formation. Kinematical evidences for two expanding bubbles, Mrk86-B and Mrk86-C, are given. They show expanding velocities of 34 km/s and 17 km/s, Halpha luminosities of 3x10^38 erg/s and 1.7x10^39 erg/s, and physical radii of 374 and 120 pc, respectively. The change in the [SII]/Halpha, [NII]/Halpha, [OII]/[OIII] and [OIII]/Hbeta line ratios with the distance to the bubble precursor suggests a diminution in the ionization parameter and, in the case of Mrk86-B, an enhancement of the shock-excited gas emission. The optical-near-infrared colours of the bubble precursors are characteristic of low metallicity star forming regions (0.2 Zsun) with burst strengths of about 1 per cent in mass.Comment: 14 pages, 12 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS, also available at ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/gil/PAPERS

Searching for emission-line galaxies: The UCM survey

We are carrying out a long-term project with the main purposes of finding and analyzing low metallicity galaxies. A very small number of very low metallicity galaxies is known up to now. However these ojbects are particularly interesting since they are excellent candidates to 'young galaxies' in evolutionary sense as POX186 (Kunth, Maurogordato & Vigroux, 1988). Since the interstellar matter in these objects is only weakly contaminated by stellar evolution, their study could provide valuable information about the primordial helium abundance and therefore it could place constraints on the different Big-Bang models. The instrumental set up of our survey is an objective-prism used with the Schmidt telescope at Calar Alto Observatory. By using hypersensitized IIIaF emulsion and RG630 filter low resolution spectra in the H alpha region of objects in a wide field is obtained (Rego et al. 1989, Zamorano et al. 1990). Surveys carried out in the past two decades at optical blue wavelengths have also produced large samples of emission-line galaxies (ELGs), for example MacAlpine & Willians 1981 and reference therein, Wasilewski 1983, Salzer and MacAlpine 1988, or Smith et al. 1976. Relying primarily on objective-prism plates taken in the blue, these surveys have found over 3000 blue/emission-line galaxies so far. A significant number of star-forming galaxies are missed by optical surveys in the blue because of their low-excitation spectra (MacAlpine and Willians 1981, Markarian et al. 1981 and references therein) or their low metallicity (Kunth and Sargent, 1986)

Optical photometry of the UCM Lists I and II

We present Johnson B CCD photometry for the whole sample of galaxies of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Survey Lists I and II. They constitute a well-defined and complete sample of galaxies in the Local Universe with active star formation. The data refer to 191 S0 to Irr galaxies at an averaged redshift of 0.027, and complement the already published Gunn r, J and K photometries. In this paper the observational and reduction features are discussed in detail, and the new colour information is combined to search for clues on the properties of the galaxies, mainly by comparing our sample with other surveys.Comment: 14 pages, 7 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in A&AS, also available vi ftp at ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/pag/PAPERS

Mapping the star formation history of Mrk86: I. Data and models

We have obtained optical (BVR, [OIII]5007 and Halpha), near infrared (JHK) imaging and long-slit optical spectroscopy for the Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy Mrk86 (NGC2537). In this paper, the first of two, we present optical-near- infrared colors and emission-line fluxes for the currently star-forming regions, intemediate aged starburst and underlying stellar population. We also describe the evolutionary synthesis models used in Paper II. The R and Halpha luminosity distributions of the galaxy star-forming regions show maxima at M_R=-9.5 and L_Halpha=10^37.3 erg s^-1. The underlying stellar population shows an exponential surface brigthness profile with central value, mu_E,0=21.5 mag arcsec^-2, and scale, alpha=0.88 kpc, both measured in the R-band image. In the galaxy outer regions, dominated by this component, no significant color gradients are observed. Finally, a set of evolutionary synthesis models have been developed, covering a wide range in metallicity and burst strength.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures, 2 landscape tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, for higher resolution images see ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/gil/PAPERS/aa00_I.ps.g

Star formation properties of UCM galaxies

We present new near-infrared J and K imaging data for 67 galaxies from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid survey used to determine the SFR density of the local universe by Gallego et al. (1995). This is a sample of local star-forming galaxies with redshift lower than 0.045, and they constitute a representative subsample of the galaxies in the complete UCM survey. From the new data, complemented with our own Gunn-r images and long-slit optical spectroscopy, we have measured integrated K-band luminosities, r-J and J-K colours, and Halpha luminosities and equivalent widths. Using a maximum likelihood estimator and a complete set of evolutionary synthesis models, these observations have allowed us to estimate the strength of the current (or most recent) burst of star formation, its age, the star-formation rate and the total stellar mass of the galaxies. An average galaxy in the sample has a stellar mass of 5E10 Msun and is undergoing (or recently completed) a burst of star formation involving about 2 per cent of its total stellar mass. We have identified two separate classes of star-forming galaxies in the UCM sample: low luminosity, high excitation galaxies (HII-like) and relatively luminous spirals galaxies (starburst disk-like). The former show higher specific star formation rates (SFR per unit mass) and burst strengths, and lower stellar masses than the latter. With regard to their specific star formation rates, the UCM galaxies are intermediate objects between normal quiescent spirals and the most extreme HII galaxies.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS, also available at ftp://cutrex.fis.ucm.es/pub/OUT/gil/PAPERS/mnras00.ps.g