183 research outputs found
VLT/FLAMES-ARGUS observations of stellar wind--ISM cloud interactions in NGC 6357
We present optical/near-IR IFU observations of a gas pillar in the Galactic
HII region NGC 6357 containing the young open star cluster Pismis 24. These
observations have allowed us to examined in detail the gas conditions of the
strong wind-clump interactions taking place on its surface. We identify the
presence of a narrow (~20 km/s) and broad (50-150 km/s) component to the
H_alpha emission line, where the broadest broad component widths are found in a
region that follows the shape of the eastern pillar edge. These connections
have allowed us to firmly associate the broad component with emission from
ionized gas within turbulent mixing layers on the pillar's surface set up by
the shear flows of the O-star winds from the cluster. We discuss the
implications of our findings in terms of the broad emission line component that
is increasingly found in extragalactic starburst environments. Although the
broad line widths found here are narrower, we conclude that the mechanisms
producing both must be the same. The difference in line widths may result from
the lower total mechanical wind energy produced by the O stars in Pismis 24
compared to that from a typical young massive star cluster found in a starburst
galaxy. The pillar's edge is also clearly defined by dense (<5000 cm^-3), hot
(>20000 K), and excited (via [NII]/H_a and [SII]/H_a ratios) gas conditions,
implying the presence of a D-type ionization front propagating into the pillar
surface. Although there must be both photoevaporation outflows produced by the
ionization front, and mass-loss through mechanical ablation, we see no evidence
for any significant bulk gas motions on or around the pillar. We postulate that
the evaporated/ablated gas must be rapidly heated before being entrained.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures (3 colour). Accepted for publication in MNRA
Spatially resolved observations of warm ionized gas and feedback in local ULIRGs
We present VLT/VIMOS-IFU emission-line spectroscopy of a volume limited
sample of 18 southern ULIRGs selected with z<0.09 and dec<10. By covering a
wide range of ULIRG types, this dataset provides an important set of templates
for comparison with high-redshift galaxies. We employed an automated Gaussian
line fitting program to decompose the emission line profiles of Halpha, [NII],
[SII], and [OI] into individual components, and chart the Halpha kinematics,
and the ionized gas excitations and densities. 11/18 of our galaxies show
evidence for outflowing warm ionized gas with speeds between 500 and a few 1000
km/s, with the fastest outflows associated with systems that contain an AGN.
Our spatially resolved spectroscopy has allowed us to map the outflows, and in
some cases determine for the first time to which nucleus the wind is
associated. In three of our targets we find line components with widths >2000
km/s over spatially extended regions in both the recombination and forbidden
lines; in two of these three, they are associated with a known Sy2 nucleus.
Eight galaxies have clear rotating gaseous disks, and for these we measure
rotation velocities, virial masses, and calculate Toomre Q parameters. We find
radial gradients in the emission line ratios in a significant number of systems
in our study. We attribute these gradients to changes in ionizing radiation
field strength, most likely due to an increasing contribution of shocks with
radius. We conclude with a detailed discussion of the results for each
individual system, with reference to the existing literature.
Our observations demonstrate that the complexity of the kinematics and gas
properties in ULIRGs can only be disentangled with high sensitivity, spatially
resolved IFU observations. Many of our targets are ideal candidates for future
high spatial resolution follow-up observations.Comment: 44 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, accepted to MNRA
A spectroscopic census of the M82 stellar cluster population
We present a spectroscopic study of the stellar cluster population of M82,
the archetype starburst galaxy, based primarily on new Gemini-North
multi-object spectroscopy of 49 star clusters. These observations constitute
the largest to date spectroscopic dataset of extragalactic young clusters,
giving virtually continuous coverage across the galaxy; we use these data to
deduce information about the clusters as well as the M82 post-starburst disk
and nuclear starburst environments. Spectroscopic age-dating places clusters in
the nucleus and disk between (7, 15) and (30, 270) Myr, with distribution peaks
at ~10 and ~140 Myr respectively. We find cluster radial velocities in the
range (-160, 220) km/s (wrt the galaxy centre) and line of sight Na I D
interstellar absorption line velocities in (-75, 200) km/s, in many cases
entirely decoupled from the clusters. As the disk cluster radial velocities lie
on the flat part of the galaxy rotation curve, we conclude that they comprise a
regularly orbiting system. Our observations suggest that the largest part of
the population was created as a result of the close encounter with M81 ~220 Myr
ago. Clusters in the nucleus are found in solid body rotation on the bar. The
possible detection of WR features in their spectra indicates that cluster
formation continues in the central starburst zone. We also report the potential
discovery of two old populous clusters in the halo of M82, aged >8 Gyr. Using
these measurements and simple dynamical considerations, we derive a toy model
for the invisible physical structure of the galaxy, and confirm the existence
of two dominant spiral arms.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Studying the galactic outflow in NGC 1569
We present deep WIYN H-alpha imaging of the dwarf irregular starburst galaxy
NGC 1569, together with WIYN SparsePak spatially-resolved optical spectroscopy
of the galactic outflow. This leads on from our previous detailed analyses of
the state of the ISM in the central regions of this galaxy. Our deep imaging
reveals previously undetected ionized filaments in the outer halo. Through
combining these results with our spectroscopy we have been able to re-define
the spatial extent of the previously catalogued superbubbles, and derive
estimates for their expansion velocities, which we find to be in the range
50-100 km/s. The implied dynamical ages of <25 Myr are consistent with the
recent star- and cluster-formation histories of the galaxy. Detailed
decomposition of the multi-component H-alpha line has shown that within a
distinct region ~700x500 pc in size, roughly centred on the bright super star
cluster A, the profile is composed of a bright, narrow (FWHM <= 70 km/s)
feature with an underlying, broad component (FWHM ~ 150 km/s). Applying the
conclusions found in our previous work regarding the mechanism through which
the broad component is produced, we associate the faint, broad emission with
the interaction of the hot, fast-flowing winds from the young star clusters
with cool clumps of ISM material. This interaction generates turbulent mixing
layers on the surface of the clouds and the evaporation and/or ablation of
material into the outflow. Under this interpretation, the extent of the broad
component region may indicate an important transition point in the outflow,
where ordered expansion begins to dominate over turbulent motion. In this
context, we present a multi-wavelength discussion of the evolutionary state of
the outflow.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
Gemini GMOS/IFU spectroscopy of NGC 1569 - II: Mapping the roots of the galactic outflow
We present a set of four Gemini-North GMOS/IFU observations of the central
disturbed regions of the dwarf irregular starburst galaxy NGC 1569, surrounding
the well-known super star clusters A and B. This continues on directly from a
companion paper, in which we describe the data reduction and analysis
techniques employed and present the analysis of one of the IFU pointings. By
decomposing the emission line profiles across the IFU fields, we map out the
properties of each individual component identified and identify a number of
relationships and correlations that allow us to investigate in detail the state
of the ionized ISM. Our observations support and expand on the main findings
from the analysis of the first IFU position, where we conclude that a broad (<
400 km/s) component underlying the bright nebular emission lines is produced in
a turbulent mixing layer on the surface of cool gas knots, set up by the impact
of the fast-flowing cluster winds. We discuss the kinematic, electron density
and excitation maps of each region in detail and compare our results to
previous studies. Our analysis reveals a very complex environment with many
overlapping and superimposed components, including dissolving gas knots,
rapidly expanding shocked shells and embedded ionizing sources, but no evidence
for organised bulk motions. We conclude that the four IFU positions presented
here lie well within the starburst region where energy is injected, and, from
the lack of substantial ordered gas flows, within the quasi-hydrostatic zone of
the wind interior to the sonic point. The net outflow occurs at radii beyond
100-200 pc, but our data imply that mass-loading of the hot ISM is active even
at the roots of the wind.Comment: 21 pages, 23 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA
HeI in the central Giant HII Region of NGC 5253. A 2D observational approach to collisional and radiative transfer effects
ABRIDGED: NGC5253 is an ideal laboratory for detailed studies of starburst
galaxies. We present for the first time in a starburst galaxy a 2D study of the
spatial behavior of collisional and radiative transfer effects in He^+. The HeI
lines are analysed based on data obtained with FLAMES and GMOS. Collisional
effects are negligible for transitions in the singlet cascade while relatively
important for those in the triplet cascade. In particular, they can contribute
up to 20% of the flux in the HeIl7065 line. Radiative transfer effects are
important over an extended and circular area of 30pc in diameter centered at
the Super Star Clusters. HeI abundance, y^+, has been mapped using extinction
corrected fluxes of six HeI lines, realistic assumptions for T_e, n_e, and the
stellar absorption equivalent width as well as the most recent emissivities. We
found a mean of 10^3 y^+ ~80.3 over the mapped area. The relation between the
excitation and the total helium abundance, y_tot, is consistent with no
abundance gradient. Uncertainties in the derivation of He abundances are
dominated by the adopted assumptions. We illustrated the difficulty of
detecting a putative He enrichment due to the presence of Wolf-Rayet stars in
the main GHIIR. Data are marginally consistent with an excess in the N/He ratio
in the N enriched area of the order of both, the atmospheric N/He ratios in WR
stars and the uncertainties estimated for the N/He ratios.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics; the emissivities presented in
the Corrigendum, Porter et al. 2013, arXiv:1303.5115, have been include
Tails of the Unexpected: The Interaction of an Isothermal Shell with a Cloud
A new mechanism for the formation of cometary tails behind dense clouds or
globules is discussed. Numerical hydrodynamical models show that when a dense
shell of swept-up matter overruns a cloud, material in the shell is focussed
behind the cloud to form a tail. This mode of tail formation is completely
distinct from other methods, which involve either the removal of material from
the cloud, or shadowing from a strong, nearby source of ionization. This
mechanism is relevant to the cometary tails seen in planetary nebulae and to
the interaction of superbubble shells with dense clouds.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS letter
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