R. Terlevich

The evolution of C/O in dwarf galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope FOS observations

We present UV observations of seven H II regions in low-luminosity dwarf irregular galaxies and the Magellanic Clouds obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in order to measure the C/O abundance ratio in the interstellar medium (ISM) of those galaxies. We measure both O III 1666 A and C III 1909 A in our spectra, enabling us to determine C(+2)/O(+2) with relatively small uncertainties. The results from our HST observations show a continuous increase in C/O with increasing O/H, consistent with a power law having an index of 0.43 +/- 0.09 over the range -4.7 to -3.6 in log (O/H). One possible interpretation of this trend is that the most metal-poor galaxies are the youngest and dominated by the products of early enrichment by massive stars, while more metal-rich galaxies show increasing, delayed contributions of carbon from intermediate-mass stars. Our results also suggest that it may not be appropiate to combine abundances in irregular galaxies with those in spiral galaxies to study the evolution of chemical abundances. Our measured C/O ratios in the most metal-poor galaxies are consistent with predictions of nucleosynthesis from massive stars for Weaver & Woosleys best estimate for the 12C(alpha, gamma) 16O nuclear reaction rate, assuming negligible contanmination from carbon produced in intermediate-mass stars in these galaxies. We detect a weak N III 1750 A multiplet in SMC N88A and obtain interesting upper limits for two other objects. Our 2 sigma uppr limits on the 1750 A feature indicate that the N(+2)/O(+2) ratios in these objects are not significantly larger than the N(+)/O(+) ratios measured from optical spectra. This behavior is consistent with predictions of photionization models, although better detections of N III are needed to confirm the results.

Carbon in Spiral Galaxies from HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE Spectroscopy

We present measurements of the gas-phase abundance ratio C/O in six H II regions in the spiral galaxies M101 and NGC 2403, based on ultraviolet spectroscopy using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The ratios of C to O increase systematically with O/H in both galaxies, from log C/O≈-0.8 at log O/H=-4.0 to log C/O≈-0.1 at log O/H=-3.4. C/N shows no correlation with O/H. The rate of increase of C/O is somewhat uncertain because of uncertainty as to the appropriate UV reddening law and uncertainty in the metallicity dependence on grain depletions. However, the trend of increasing C/O with O/H is clear, confirming and extending the trend in C/O indicated previously from observations of irregular galaxies. Our data indicate that the radial gradients in C/H across spiral galaxies are steeper than the gradients in O/H. Comparing the data to chemical-evolution models for spiral galaxies shows that models in which the massive star yields do not vary with metallicity predict radial C/O gradients that are much flatter than the observed gradients. The most likely hypothesis at present is that stellar winds in massive stars have an important effect on the yields and thus on the evolution of carbon and oxygen abundances. C-to-O and N-to-O abundance ratios in the outer disks of spirals determined to date are very similar to those in dwarf irregular galaxies. This implies that the outer disks of spirals have average stellar-population ages much younger than those of the inner disks.

Si/O Abundance Ratios in Extragalactic H II Regions from Hubble Space Telescope UV Spectroscopy

We have measured the Si III] intercombination doublet at 1883 ? and 1892 ? in seven extragalactic H II regions using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. These measurements were used to derive the Si/C and Si/O gas phase abundance ratios in the ionized gas. We find that Si/O shows no systematic variation with O/H over the range -4.8 < log O/H < -3.4. The weighted mean value for Si/O over this range is log Si/O = -1.59 ? 0.07. For comparison, the solar value is log Si/O = -1.37, while for Galactic B stars and supergiants -1.6 < log Si/O < -1.2. Uncertainty in the stellar reference value for Si/O prevents a straightforward interpretation of our Si/O ratios. However, if the solar Si/O ratio represents the intrinsic cosmic ratio, our results imply that, on average, only about 50% of the total abundance of silicon in these H II regions is incorporated into dust grains, a value significantly smaller than is typically measured in dense interstellar clouds. Our results suggest that some grain modification is occurring within the H II region environment.

Integral field spectroscopy of H ii region complexes: the outer disc of NGC 6946

Integral field spectroscopy obtained with the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrophotometer Fiber Package (PPak) and the 3.5-m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory has been used to study an outer H II region complex in the well-studied galaxy NGC 6946. This technique provides detailed maps of the region in different emission lines, yielding spatially resolved information about the physical properties of the gas. The configuration was chosen to cover the whole spectrum from 3600 up to 10 000 angstrom, allowing the measurement of the near-infrared [S III] lines. We selected four luminous knots to perform a detailed integrated spectroscopic analysis of these structures and of the whole PPak field of view (FOV). For all the knots the electron density has been found to be very similar and below 100 cm(-3). The [O III] electron temperature was measured in knots A, B, C and in the integrated PPak field, and was found to be around 8000 K. The temperatures of [O II] and [S III] were estimated in the four cases. The elemental abundances computed from the direct method are typical of high-metallicity disc H II regions, with a mean value of 12+log(O/H)= 8.65, comparable to what has been found in this galaxy by other authors for regions at similar galactocentric distance. Therefore a remarkable abundance uniformity is found despite the different excitations found throughout the nebula. However, due to the quality of the data, the electron temperatures and metallicities obtained have associated errors comparable to the typical dispersion found in empirical calibrations. Wolf-Rayet (WR) features have been detected in three of the knots, leading to a derived total number of WR stars of 125, 22 and 5 for knots A, C and B, respectively. The ratios of the numbers of WR to O stars are consistent with the prediction of Starburst99 for individual bursts with an age about 4Myr. Knot D, with no WR features, shows weak H alpha emission, low excitation and the lowest H beta equivalent width, all of which points to a more evolved state. The integrated spectrum of the whole PPak FOV shows high excitation and a relatively evolved age that does not correspond to the individual knot evolutionary stages. Some effects associated with the loss of spatial resolution are also evidenced by the higher ionizing temperature that is deduced from the eta parameter measured in the integrated PPak spectrum with respect to that of the individual knots.

Integral Field Spectroscopy of HII region complexes. The outer disk of NGC 6946

Integral field spectroscopy obtained with the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrophotometer Fiber Package (PPak) and the 3.5-m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory has been used to study an outer H II region complex in the well-studied galaxy NGC 6946. This technique provides detailed maps of the region in different emission lines, yielding spatially resolved information about the physical properties of the gas. The configuration was chosen to cover the whole spectrum from 3600 up to 10 000 angstrom, allowing the measurement of the near-infrared [S III] lines. We selected four luminous knots to perform a detailed integrated spectroscopic analysis of these structures and of the whole PPak field of view (FOV). For all the knots the electron density has been found to be very similar and below 100 cm(-3). The [O III] electron temperature was measured in knots A, B, C and in the integrated PPak field, and was found to be around 8000 K. The temperatures of [O II] and [S III] were estimated in the four cases. The elemental abundances computed from the direct method are typical of high-metallicity disc H II regions, with a mean value of 12+log(O/H)= 8.65, comparable to what has been found in this galaxy by other authors for regions at similar galactocentric distance. Therefore a remarkable abundance uniformity is found despite the different excitations found throughout the nebula. However, due to the quality of the data, the electron temperatures and metallicities obtained have associated errors comparable to the typical dispersion found in empirical calibrations. Wolf-Rayet (WR) features have been detected in three of the knots, leading to a derived total number of WR stars of 125, 22 and 5 for knots A, C and B, respectively. The ratios of the numbers of WR to O stars are consistent with the prediction of Starburst99 for individual bursts with an age about 4Myr. Knot D, with no WR features, shows weak H alpha emission, low excitation and the lowest H beta equivalent width, all of which points to a more evolved state. The integrated spectrum of the whole PPak FOV shows high excitation and a relatively evolved age that does not correspond to the individual knot evolutionary stages. Some effects associated with the loss of spatial resolution are also evidenced by the higher ionizing temperature that is deduced from the eta parameter measured in the integrated PPak spectrum with respect to that of the individual knots.

HI Observations of NGC 1068

Neutral hydrogen is an important tracer of galactic dynamics. Hence, observations of the detailed structure and kinematics of HI are vital in order to determine the relationship between AGN and their host galaxy.We describe high resolution VLA emission line observations of NGC 1068 at about 600 pc linear resolution and 5.2 km s-1 velocity resolution. We present the HI morphology of this Seyfert galaxy and discuss its peculiar rotation curve and speculate how its shape might be related to the Seyfert activity. Related to this, we will highlight the pronounced HI ring within which the tightly wound CO spiral arms are found, and discuss the high, up to 55 km s-1, velocity dispersions which are found there.

A high-excitation H ii region in the faint dwarf elliptical galaxy A 0951 + 68

We present the results of BVRI imaging and optical spectroscopy of the dwarf galaxy A0951+68. The images reveal that, although this galaxy is classified as a dwarf elliptical, it has some properties that are similar to dwarf irregular galaxies. It contains two bright knots of emission, one of which is red and unresolved and the other blue and resolved. The blue knot also shows a high excitation emission line spectrum. The observed line ratios indicate that this is an HII region, although with some line ratios that are border-line with those in AGN. The emission line luminosity is consistent with ionisation by a single, very luminous O star, or several smaller O stars, but the extended blue light in the knot shows that this has occurred as part of a substantial recent star formation event. We find that the metal abundance, while low compared to typical large galaxies, actually seems to be high for such a low luminosity dwarf. The position of A0951 in the literature is incorrect and we provide the correct value.

Bright stars and recent star formation in the irregular magellanic galaxy NGC 2366

This is an electronic version of an article published in The Astronomical Journal. Aparicio, A. et al. Bright stars and recent star formation in the irregular magellanic galaxy NGC 2366. The Astronomical Journal 110.1 (1995): 212-222

Evolution of star-forming dwarf galaxies: characterizing the star formation scenarios

We use the self-consistent model technique developed by Martin-Manjon et al. that combines the chemical evolution with stellar population synthesis and photoionization codes, to study the star formation scenarios capable of reproducing the observed properties of star-forming galaxies. n n n nThe comparison of our model results with a data base of Hxa0ii galaxies shows that the observed spectra and colours of the present burst and the older underlying population are reproduced by models in a bursting scenario with star formation efficiency involving close to 20xa0per cent of the total mass of gas, and interburst times longer than 100xa0Myr, and more probably around 1xa0Gyr. Other modes like gasping and continuous star formation are not favoured.

Modelling Starburst in HII Galaxies: from Chemical to Spectro-Photometric Evolutionary Self-Consistent Models

We have computed a series of realistic and self-consistent models that reproduce the properties of Hii galaxies. The emitted spectrum of Hii galaxies is reproduced by means of the photoionization code CLOUDY, using as ionizing spectrum the spectral energy distribution of the modelled Hii galaxy, calculated using new and updated stellar population synthesis model (PopStar). This, in turn, is calculated according to a star formation history and a metallicity evolution given by a chemical evolution code. Our technique reproduces observed abundances, diagnostic diagrams, colours and equivalent width–colour relations for local Hii galaxies.