6,298 research outputs found
Local Starbursts in a Cosmological Context
In this contribution I introduce some of the major issues that motivate the
conference, with an emphasis on how starbursts fit into the ``big picture''. I
begin by defining starbursts in several different ways, and discuss the merits
and limitations of these definitions. I will argue that the most physically
useful definition of a starburst is its ``intensity'' (star formation rate per
unit area). This is the most natural parameter to compare local starbursts with
physically similar galaxies at high redshift, and indeed I will argue that
local starbursts are unique laboratories to study the processes at work in the
early universe. I will describe how NASA's GALEX mission has uncovered a rare
population of close analogs to Lyman Break Galaxies in the local universe. I
will then compare local starbursts to the Lyman-Break and sub-mm galaxies high
redshift populations, and speculate that the multidimensional ``manifold'' of
starbursts near and far can be understood largely in terms of the
Schmidt/Kennicutt law and galaxy mass-metallicity relation. I will briefly
summarize he properties of starburst-driven galactic superwinds and their
possible implications for the evolution of galaxies and the IGM. These complex
multiphase flows are best studied in nearby starbursts, where we can study the
the hot X-ray gas that contains the bulk of the energy and newly produced
metals.Comment: Proceedings of the Conference "Starbursts: Fropm 30 Doradus to Lyman
Break Galaxies
The nature of the emission-line nebulae in powerful far-infrared galaxies
The authors discuss their program of narrow-band (H alpha + (NII)) imaging of a sample of 30 powerful far-infrared galaxies (FIRG's) chosen to have far-infrared spectral energy distributions similar to the prototype FIRG's Arp 220, NGC 3690, NGC 6240, and M82. The emission-line nebulae of these IR color-selected sample (ICSS) galaxies as a class are both impressively large (mean half light radius, r approx. 1.3 Kpc, and mean diameter, D approx. 16 Kpc) and luminous (L sub TOT approx. 10(exp 8) solar lumninosity; uncorrected for internal extinction). The mean total H alpha + (NII) luminosity of the FIRG's is comparable to that found for pairs of optically selected interacting galaxies (Bushouse, Lamb, and Werner 1988), but is a factor of approx. 5 greater than that of isolated spirals (Kennicutt and Kent 1983). Only approx. 25 percent of the nearby (z approx. less than 0.10) FIRG's have morphologies suggesting that large HII-regions contribute significantly to their emission-line appearance. The broad-band morphologies of our IR color-selected galaxies fall into three major categories. Nearly 75 percent are single galaxy systems, with the remaining FIRG's being either multiple nuclei systems, or members of interacting pairs. Since the authors saw few (10 percent) currently interacting FIRG's, yet many (80 percent) with highly distorted continuum morphologies, their IR color criteria may be preferentially selecting galaxies that have undergone highly inelastic, rapidly merging interactions
On the Physical Origin of OVI Absorption-Line Systems
We present a unified analysis of the O{\sc vi} absorption-lines seen in the
disk and halo of the Milky Way, high velocity clouds, the Magellanic Clouds,
starburst galaxies, and the intergalactic medium. We show that these disparate
systems define a simple relationship between the O{\sc vi} column density and
absorption-line width that is independent of the Oxygen abundance over the
range O/H 10% to twice solar. We show that this relation is exactly that
predicted theoretically as a radiatively cooling flow of hot gas passes through
the coronal temperature regime - independent of its density or metallicity (for
O/H 0.1 solar). Since most of the intregalactic O{\sc vi} clouds obey
this relation, we infer that they can not have metallicities less than a few
percent solar. In order to be able to cool radiatively in less than a Hubble
time, the intergalactic clouds must be smaller than 1 Mpc in size. We
show that the cooling column densities for the O{\sc iv}, O{\sc v}, Ne{\sc v},
and Ne{\sc vi} ions are comparable to those seen in O{\sc vi}. This is also
true for the Li-like ions Ne{\sc viii}, Mg{\sc x}, and Si{\sc xii} (if the gas
is cooling from K). All these ions have strong resonance lines
in the extreme-ultraviolet spectral range, and would be accessible to at
0.2 to 0.8. We also show that the Li-like ions can be used to probe
radiatively cooling gas at temperatures an order-of-magnitude higher than where
their ionic fraction peaks. We calculate that the H-like (He-like) O, Ne, Mg,
Si, and S ions have cooling columns of cm. The O{\sc vii},
O{\sc viii}, and Ne{\sc ix} X-ray absorption-lines towards PKS 2155-304 may
arise in radiatively cooling gas in the Galactic disk or halo.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure
Chandra and XMM-Newton Observations of NGC 4214: The Hot Interstellar Medium and the Luminosity Function of Dwarf Starbursts
We present results from Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observations of NGC
4214, a nearby dwarf starburst galaxy containing several young regions of very
active star-formation. Starburst regions are known to be associated with
diffuse X-ray emission, and in this case the X-ray emission from the galaxy
shows an interesting morphological structure within the galaxy, clearly
associated with the central regions of active star-formation. Of the two main
regions of star-formation in this galaxy, X-ray emission associated with the
older is identified whereas little is detected from the younger, providing an
insight into the evolutionary process of the formation of superbubbles around
young stellar clusters. The spectra of the diffuse emission from the galaxy can
be fitted with a two temperature component thermal model with kT=0.14keV and
0.52keV, and analysis of this emission suggests that NGC 4214 will suffer a
blow-out in the future.
The point source population of the galaxy has an X-ray luminosity function
with a slope of -0.76. This result, together with those for other dwarf
starburst galaxies (NGC 4449 and NGC 5253), was added to a sample of luminosity
functions for spiral and starburst galaxies. The slope of the luminosity
function of dwarf starbursts is seen to be similar to that of their larger
counterparts and clearly flatter than those seen in spirals. Further
comparisons between the luminosity functions of starbursts and spiral galaxies
are also made.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Separate ways: The Mass-Metallicity Relation does not strongly correlate with Star Formation Rate in SDSS-IV MaNGA galaxies
We present the integrated stellar mass-metallicity relation (MZR) for more
than 1700 galaxies included in the integral field area SDSS-IV MaNGA survey.
The spatially resolved data allow us to determine the metallicity at the same
physical scale (effective radius in arcsecs, ) using a
heterogeneous set of ten abundance calibrators. Besides scale factors, the
shape of the MZR is similar for all calibrators, consistent with those reported
previously using single-fiber and integral field spectroscopy. We compare the
residuals of this relation against the star formation rate (SFR) and specific
SFR (sSFR). We do not find a strong secondary relation of the MZR with either
SFR or the sSFR for any of the calibrators, in contrast with previous
single-fiber spectroscopic studies. Our results agree with an scenario in which
metal enrichment happens at local scales, with global outflows playing a
secondary role in shaping the chemistry of galaxies and cold-gas inflows
regulating the stellar formation.Comment: 10 pages, 9 Figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
On the Escape of Ionizing Radiation from Starbursts
Far-ultraviolet spectra obtained with show that the strong
1036 interstellar absorption-line is essentially black in five of
the UV-brightest local starburst galaxies. Since the opacity of the neutral ISM
below the Lyman-edge will be significantly larger than in the line, these
data provide strong constraints on the escape of ionizing radiation from these
starbursts. Interpreted as a a uniform absorbing slab, the implied optical
depth at the Lyman edge is huge (). Alternatively, the areal
covering factor of opaque material is typically 94%. Thus, the fraction
of ionizing stellar photons that escape the ISM of each galaxy is small: our
conservative estimates typically yield . Inclusion of
extinction due to dust will further decrease . An analogous analysis
of the rest-UV spectrum of the star-forming galaxy at =2.7
leads to similar constraints on . These new results agree with the
constraints provided by direct observations below the Lyman edge in a few other
local starbursts. However, they differ from the recently reported properties of
star-forming galaxies at 3. We assess the idea that the strong
galactic winds seen in many powerful starbursts clear channels through their
neutral ISM. We show empirically that such outflows may be a necessary - but
not sufficient - part of the process for creating a relatively porous ISM. We
note that observations will soon document the cosmic evolution in the
contribution of star-forming galaxies to the metagalactic ionizing background,
with important implications for the evolution of the IGM.Comment: 17 pages; ApJ, in pres
Feedback in the local LBG Analog Haro 11 as probed by far-UV and X-ray observations
We have re-analyzed FUSE data and obtained new Chandra observations of Haro
11, a local (D_L=88 Mpc) UV luminous galaxy. Haro 11 has a similar far-UV
luminosity (10^10.3 L_\odot), UV surface brightness (10^9.4 L_\odot kpc^-2),
SFR, and metallicity to that observed in Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs). We show
that Haro 11 has extended, soft thermal (kT~0.68 keV) X-ray emission with a
luminosity and size which scales with the physical properties (e.g. SFR,
stellar mass) of the host galaxy. An enhanced alpha/Fe, ratio of ~4 relative to
solar abundance suggests significant supernovae enrichment. These results are
consistent with the X-ray emission being produced in a shock between a
supernovae driven outflow and the ambient material. The FUV spectra show strong
absorption lines similar to those observed in LBG spectra. A blueshifted
absorption component is identified as a wind outflowing at ~200-280 km/s.
OVI\lambda\lambda1032,1038 emission, the dominant cooling mechanism for coronal
gas at T~10^5.5 K is also observed. If associated with the outflow, the
luminosity of the OVI emission suggests that <20% of the total mechanical
energy from the supernovae and solar winds is being radiated away. This implies
that radiative cooling through OVI is not significantly inhibiting the growth
of the outflowing gas. In contradiction to the findings of Bergvall et al 2006,
we find no convincing evidence of Lyman continuum leakage in Haro 11. We
conclude that the wind has not created a `tunnel' allowing the escape of a
significant fraction of Lyman continuum photons and place a limit on the escape
fraction of f_{esc}<2%. Overall, both Haro 11 and a previously observed LBG
analogue VV 114, provide an invaluable insight into the X-ray and FUV
properties of high redshift LBGs.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 40 pages, 17 figure
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