Star Formation In Regions Of Galaxies Research Articles

Star formation in CALIFA survey perturbed galaxies – III. Stellar and ionized-gas kinematic distributions

ABSTRACT We obtain the kinematic distributions of stars (synthetic model line absorption) and ionized gas (H α line emission) for star-forming regions residing in Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area survey tidally perturbed (perturbed) and non-tidally perturbed (control) galaxies. We set the uncertainties of the velocity dispersion by measuring the statistical variability of the data sets themselves. Using these adopted uncertainties and considering the sensitivity of the grating device, we establish thresholds of reliability that allow us to select reliable velocity dispersions. From this selection, we pair the star-forming spaxels between control and perturbed galaxies at the closest shifts in velocity (de-redshifting). We compare their respective distributions of velocity dispersion. In perturbed galaxies, median velocity dispersions for the stellar and gaseous components are minimally higher and equal, respectively, than those in control galaxies. The spread in velocity dispersion and the velocity shift–velocity dispersion space agree with this result. Unlike the well-known trend in strongly interacting systems, the stellar and ionized-gas motions are not disturbed by the influence of close companions. For the gaseous component, this result is due to the poor statistical variability of its data, a consequence of the tightness in velocity dispersion derived from high spectral line intensities. This analysis concludes the series, which previously showed star-forming regions in galaxies with close companions undergoing more prominent gas inflows, resulting in differences in their star formation and consequent metal content.

Jellyfish galaxies with the IllustrisTNG simulations - No enhanced population-wide star formation according to TNG50

ABSTRACT Due to ram-pressure stripping (RPS), jellyfish galaxies are thought to lose large amounts, if not all, of their interstellar medium. Nevertheless, some, but not all, observations suggest that jellyfish galaxies exhibit enhanced star formation compared to control samples, even in their ram pressure-stripped tails. We use the TNG50 cosmological gravity + magnetohydrodynamical simulation, with an average spatial resolution of 50–200 pc in the star-forming regions of galaxies, to quantify the star formation activity and star formation rates (SFRs) of more than 700 jellyfish galaxies at z = 0–1 with stellar masses $10^{8.3-10.8} \ {\rm M}_\odot$ in hosts with mass $10^{10.5-14.3} \ {\rm M}_\odot$. We extract their global SFRs, the SFRs within their main stellar body versus within the tails, and we follow the evolution of the star formation along their individual evolutionary tracks. We compare the findings for jellyfish galaxies to those of diversely constructed control samples, including against satellite and field galaxies with matched redshift, stellar mass, gas fraction, and host halo mass. According to TNG50, star formation and RPS can indeed occur simultaneously within any given galaxy, and frequently do so. Moreover, star formation can also take place within the ram pressure-stripped tails, even though the latter is typically subdominant. However, TNG50 does not predict elevated population-wide SFRs in jellyfish compared to analogue satellite galaxies with the same stellar mass or gas fraction. Simulated jellyfish galaxies do undergo bursts of elevated star formation along their history but, at least according to TNG50, these do not translate into a population-wide enhancement at any given epoch.

JWST’s PEARLS: Dust Attenuation and Gravitational Lensing in the Backlit-galaxy System VV 191

We derive the spatial and wavelength behavior of dust attenuation in the multiple-armed spiral galaxy VV 191b using backlighting by the superimposed elliptical system VV 191a in a pair with an exceptionally favorable geometry for this measurement. Imaging using the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope spans the wavelength range 0.3–4.5 μm with high angular resolution, tracing the dust in detail from 0.6–1.5 μm. Distinct dust lanes continue well beyond the bright spiral arms, and trace a complex web, with a very sharp radial cutoff near 1.7 Petrosian radii. We present attenuation profiles and coverage statistics in each band at radii 14–21 kpc. We derive the attenuation law with wavelength; the data both within and between the dust lanes clearly favor a stronger reddening behavior (R = A V /E B−V ≈ 2.0 between 0.6 and 0.9 μm, approaching unity by 1.5 μm) than found for starbursts and star-forming regions of galaxies. Power-law extinction behavior ∝λ −β gives β = 2.1 from 0.6–0.9 μm. R decreases at increasing wavelengths (R ≈ 1.1 between 0.9 and 1.5 μm), while β steepens to 2.5. Mixing regions of different column density flattens the wavelength behavior, so these results suggest a different grain population than in our vicinity. The NIRCam images reveal a lens arc and counterimage from a background galaxy at z ≈ 1, spanning 90° azimuthally at 2.″8 from the foreground elliptical-galaxy nucleus, and an additional weakly lensed galaxy. The lens model and imaging data give a mass/light ratio M/L B = 7.6 in solar units within the Einstein radius 2.0 kpc.

Synthetic Absorption Lines from Simulations of Multiphase Gas in Galactic Winds

Abstract Supernova-driven galactic winds are multiphase streams of gas that are often observed flowing at a range of velocities out of star-forming regions in galaxies. In this study, we use high-resolution 3D simulations of multiphase galactic winds modeled with the hydrodynamics code Cholla to investigate the connection between numerical studies and observations. Using a simulated interaction between a hot T ∼ 107 K supernova-driven wind and a cool T ∼ 104 K cloud of interstellar material, we create mock observables, including the optical depth (τ) and covering fraction (C f ), of six commonly observed ions (Si ii, C ii, Si iv, C iv, N v, and O vi) as a function of gas velocity. We compare our mock observables to surveys of galactic winds in the literature, finding good agreement with velocities and profiles of the low ions. We then compute “empirical” values for the optical depth and covering fraction following observational techniques, and compare them to the values calculated directly from the simulation data. We find that the empirically computed values tend to underestimate the “true” value of τ for ions with high optical depth and overestimate the “true” value of τ for ions with low optical depth relative to the simulated data. The empirically estimated covering fractions match our direct calculations very well for the low-ionization ions; for the high-ionization ions, the empirical covering fractions underestimate the directly computed values by up to ∼40%.

The Cosmic Ultraviolet Baryon Survey (CUBS) – III. Physical properties and elemental abundances of Lyman-limit systems at z < 1

ABSTRACT We present a systematic investigation of physical conditions and elemental abundances in four optically thick Lyman-limit systems (LLSs) at z = 0.36–0.6 discovered within the Cosmic Ultraviolet Baryon Survey (CUBS). Because intervening LLSs at z < 1 suppress far-UV (ultraviolet) light from background QSOs, an unbiased search of these absorbers requires a near-UV-selected QSO sample, as achieved by CUBS. CUBS LLSs exhibit multicomponent kinematic structure and a complex mix of multiphase gas, with associated metal transitions from multiple ionization states such as C ii, C iii, N iii, Mg ii, Si ii, Si iii, O ii, O iii, O vi, and Fe ii absorption that span several hundred km s−1 in line-of-sight velocity. Specifically, higher column density components (log N(H i)/cm−2≳ 16) in all four absorbers comprise dynamically cool gas with $\langle T \rangle =(2\pm 1) \times 10^4\,$K and modest non-thermal broadening of $\langle b_\mathrm{nt} \rangle =5\pm 3\,$km s−1. The high quality of the QSO absorption spectra allows us to infer the physical conditions of the gas, using a detailed ionization modelling that takes into account the resolved component structures of H i and metal transitions. The range of inferred gas densities indicates that these absorbers consist of spatially compact clouds with a median line-of-sight thickness of $160^{+140}_{-50}$ pc. While obtaining robust metallicity constraints for the low density, highly ionized phase remains challenging due to the uncertain $N\mathrm{(H\, {\small I})}$, we demonstrate that the cool-phase gas in LLSs has a median metallicity of $\mathrm{[\alpha /H]_{1/2}}=-0.7^{+0.1}_{-0.2}$, with a 16–84 percentile range of [α/H] = (−1.3, −0.1). Furthermore, the wide range of inferred elemental abundance ratios ([C/α], [N/α], and [Fe/α]) indicate a diversity of chemical enrichment histories. Combining the absorption data with deep galaxy survey data characterizing the galaxy environment of these absorbers, we discuss the physical connection between star-forming regions in galaxies and diffuse gas associated with optically thick absorption systems in the z < 1 circumgalactic medium.

Massive Star Formation in the Ultraviolet Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope

Spectroscopic observations of a massive star formation in the ultraviolet and their interpretation are reviewed. After a brief historical retrospective, two well-studied resolved star clusters and the surrounding H II regions are introduced: NGC 2070 in the Large Magellanic Cloud and NGC 604 in M33. These regions serve as a training set for studies of more distant clusters, which can no longer be resolved into individual stars. Observations of recently formed star clusters and extended regions in star-forming galaxies in the nearby universe beyond the Local Group are presented. Their interpretation relies on spectral synthesis models. The successes and failures of such models are discussed, and future directions are highlighted. I present a case study of the extraordinary star cluster and giant H II region in the blue compact galaxy II Zw 40. The review concludes with a preview of two upcoming Hubble Space Telescope programs: ULLYSES, a survey of massive stars in nearby galaxies, and CLASSY, a study of massive star clusters in star-forming galaxies.

Narrow-band Hα imaging of nearby Wolf–Rayet galaxies

ABSTRACT We present narrow-band Hα imaging of nearby Wolf–Rayet (WR) galaxies known as a subset of starburst galaxies. The Hα images have been used to show morphology of star-forming regions in galaxies, which leads to speculate that the studied galaxies have most likely experienced merger or interaction with low luminous dwarf galaxies or H i clouds. We further derive the Hα-based star formation rates (SFRs) in galaxies using our Hα observations. These SFRs are well correlated with SFRs derived using other indicators at far-ultraviolet, far-infrared, and 1.4-GHz radio wavebands. It is noticed that the infrared excess (IRX) method gives the best SFR estimates, consistent with different models predication. These models also predict that the sample galaxies have probably gone through a continuous star formation at least for 1 Gyr over which the recent (<10 Myr) star formation has taken place in WR phase. This study presents main-sequence (MS) relation for nearby WR galaxies for the first time. This derived MS relation is found to be similar to previously known MS relation for normal nearby star-forming galaxies, suggesting that WR systems evolve in a similar fashion as normal star-forming galaxies evolve.

First results from the TNG50 simulation: the evolution of stellar and gaseous discs across cosmic time

Abstract We present a new cosmological, magnetohydrodynamical simulation for galaxy formation: TNG50, the third and final instalment of the IllustrisTNG project. TNG50 evolves 2 × 21603 dark matter particles and gas cells in a volume 50 comoving Mpc across. It hence reaches a numerical resolution typical of zoom-in simulations, with a baryonic element mass of $8.5\times 10^4\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ and an average cell size of 70–140 pc in the star-forming regions of galaxies. Simultaneously, TNG50 samples ∼700 (6500) galaxies with stellar masses above $10^{10} \, (10^8)\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ at $z$ = 1. Here we investigate the structural and kinematical evolution of star-forming galaxies across cosmic time (0 ≲ $z$ ≲ 6). We quantify their sizes, disc heights, 3D shapes, and degree of rotational versus dispersion-supported motions as traced by rest-frame V-band light (i.e. roughly stellar mass) and by $\rm H\,\alpha$ light (i.e. star-forming and dense gas). The unprecedented resolution of TNG50 enables us to model galaxies with sub-kpc half-light radii and with ≲300-pc disc heights. Coupled with the large-volume statistics, we characterize a diverse, redshift- and mass-dependent structural and kinematical morphological mix of galaxies all the way to early epochs. Our model predicts that for star-forming galaxies the fraction of disc-like morphologies, based on 3D stellar shapes, increases with both cosmic time and galaxy stellar mass. Gas kinematics reveal that the vast majority of $10^{9-11.5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ star-forming galaxies are rotationally supported discs for most cosmic epochs (Vrot/σ > 2–3, $z$ ≲ 5), being dynamically hotter at earlier epochs ($z$ ≳ 1.5). Despite large velocity dispersion at high redshift, cold and dense gas in galaxies predominantly arranges in disky or elongated shapes at all times and masses; these gaseous components exhibit rotationally dominated motions far exceeding the collisionless stellar bodies.

TheHerschelExploitation of Local Galaxy Andromeda (HELGA)

The radiation of stars heats dust grains in the diffuse interstellar medium and in star-forming regions in galaxies. Modelling this interaction provides information on dust in galaxies, a vital ingredient for their evolution. It is not straightforward to identify the stellar populations heating the dust, and to link attenuation to emission on a sub-galactic scale. Radiative transfer models are able to simulate this dust-starlight interaction in a realistic, three-dimensional setting. We investigate the dust heating mechanisms on a local and global galactic scale, using the Andromeda galaxy (M31) as our laboratory. We perform a series of panchromatic radiative transfer simulations of Andromeda with our code SKIRT. The high inclination angle of M31 complicates the 3D modelling and causes projection effects. However, the observed morphology and flux density are reproduced fairly well from UV to sub-millimeter wavelengths. Our model reveals a realistic attenuation curve, compatible with previous, observational estimates. We find that the dust in M31 is mainly (91 % of the absorbed luminosity) heated by the evolved stellar populations. The bright bulge produces a strong radiation field and induces non-local heating up to the main star-forming ring at 10 kpc. The relative contribution of unevolved stellar populations to the dust heating varies strongly with wavelength and with galactocentric distance.The dust heating fraction of unevolved stellar populations correlates strongly with NUV-r colour and specific star formation rate. These two related parameters are promising probes for the dust heating sources at a local scale.

Sub-Eddington star-forming regions are super-Eddington: momentum-driven outflows from supersonic turbulence

We show that the turbulent gas in the star-forming regions of galaxies is unstable to wind formation via momentum deposition by radiation pressure or other momentum sources like supernova explosions, even if the system is below the average Eddington limit. This conclusion follows from the fact that the critical momentum injection rate per unit mass for unbinding gas from a self-gravitating system is proportional to the gas surface density and that a turbulent medium presents a broad distribution of column densities to the sources. For an average Eddington ratio of <Gamma>~0.1 and for turbulent Mach numbers >30, we find that ~1% of the gas is ejected per dynamical timescale at velocities larger than the local escape velocity. Because of the lognormal shape of the surface density distribution, the mass loss rate is highly sensitive to the average Eddington ratio, reaching 20-40% of the gas mass per dynamical time for <Gamma>=1. Using this model we find a large scatter in the mass-loading factor for star-forming galaxies, ranging from 0.001-10, but with significant uncertainties. Implications for the efficiency of star formation in giant molecular clouds are highlighted. For radiation pressure feedback alone, we find an increasing star formation efficiency as a function of initial gas surface density. Uncertainties are discussed.

QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY OF BLUE SUPERGIANTS IN METAL-POOR DWARF GALAXY NGC 3109

We present a quantitative analysis of the low-resolution (4.5 A) spectra of 12 late-B and early-A blue supergiants (BSGs) in the metal-poor dwarf galaxy NGC 3109. A modified method of analysis is presented which does not require use of the Balmer jump as an independent temperature indicator, as used in previous studies. We determine stellar effective temperatures, gravities, metallicities, reddening, and luminosities, and combine our sample with the early-B type BSGs analyzed by Evans et al. (2007) to derive the distance to NGC 3109 using the Flux-weighted Gravity-Luminosity Relation (FGLR). Using primarily Fe-group elements, we find an average metallicity of [Z] = -0.67 +/- 0.13, and no evidence of a metallicity gradient in the galaxy. Our metallicities are higher than those found by Evans et al. (2007) based on the oxygen abundances of early-B supergiants ([Z] = -0.93 +/- 0.07), suggesting a low alpha/Fe ratio for the galaxy. We adjust the position of NGC 3109 on the BSG-determined galaxy mass-metallicity relation accordingly and compare it to metallicity studies of HII regions in star-forming galaxies. We derive an FGLR distance modulus of 25.55 +/- 0.09 (1.27 Mpc) that compares well with Cepheid and tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) distances. The FGLR itself is consistent with those found in other galaxies, demonstrating the reliability of this method as a measure of extragalactic distances.

INTRINSIC SHAPE OF STAR-FORMING BzK GALAXIES. II. REST-FRAME ULTRAVIOLET AND OPTICAL STRUCTURES IN GOODS-SOUTH AND SXDS

(Abridge) We study statistical intrinsic shape of star-forming BzK galaxies (sBzK galaxies) at z~2 in both rest-frame UV and rest-frame optical wavelengths. The sBzK galaxies are selected down to K(AB)=24.0 mag in the GOODS-South and SXDS fields, where high-resolution images from Hubble Space Telescope are publicly available. 57% (583) of all 1028 galaxies in GOODS-S show a single component in the ACS/F850LP image. As WFC3/F160W images cover only some part of GOODS-S and SXDS, 724/1028 and 2500/29835 sBzK galaxies in the GOODS-S and SXDS have the WFC3 coverage. 86% (626) and 82% (2044) of the sBzK galaxies in WFC3/F160W images appear as a single component in the GOODS-S and SXDS, respectively. Larger fraction of single-component objects in F850LP images represents multiple star-forming regions in galaxies, while they are not so obvious in the F160W image which appears smoother. Most of the single-component sBzK galaxies show S\'ersic indices of n=0.5-2.5, in agreement with those of local disk galaxies. Their effective radii are 1.0-3.0 kpc and 1.5-4.0 kpc in F850LP and F160W images, respectively, regardless of the observed fields. Stellar surface mass density of the sBzK galaxies is also comparable to that of the local disk galaxies. However, the intrinsic shape of sBzK galaxies is not a round disk as seen in the local disk galaxies. By comparing apparent axial ratio (b/a) distributions of the sBzK galaxies with those by assuming tri-axial model with axes A>B>C, we found their intrinsic face-on B/A ratios peak at B/A=0.70 and B/A=0.77-0.79 in the rest-frame UV and optical, respectively and are statistically more bar-like than that of the local disk galaxies. The intrinsic edge-on C/A ratios in both rest-frame UV and optical wavelengths peak at 0.26, which is slightly larger than that of the local disk galaxies.

Implications for Galaxy Evolution from Cosmic Evolution of the Supernova Rate Density

Abstract We report on a comprehensive statistical analysis of observational data of the cosmic evolution of the supernova (SN) rate density, to derive constraints on cosmic star-formation history and the nature of a type Ia supernova (SNIa) progenitor. We use all available information concerning the magnitude, SN type, and redshift information of both type Ia and core-collapse (CC) SNe in GOODS and SDF, as well as SNIa rate densities reported in the literature. We also add 157 SN candidates in the past Subaru/Suprime-Cam data that are newly reported here, to increase the statistics. We find that the current data set of the SN rate density evolution already gives a meaningful constraint on the evolution of the cosmic star formation rate (SFR) at $z \lesssim 1$, though strong constraints cannot be derived for the delay time distribution (DTD) of SNe Ia. We derive a constraint of $\alpha \sim $ 3–4 [the evolutionary index of SFR density $\propto (1+z)^\alpha$ at $z \lesssim 1$] with evidence for a significant evolution of the mean extinction of CC SNe [$E(B-V) \sim$0.5 at $z \sim$0.5 compared with $\sim 0.2$ at $z=0$], which does not change significantly within a reasonable range of various DTD models. This result is consistent with the systematic trend of $\alpha $ estimates based on galactic SFR indicators at different wavelengths (ultraviolet, H$\alpha $, and infrared), indicating that there is a strong evolution in the mean extinction of star-forming regions in galaxies at relatively low redshift range of $z \lesssim$0.5. These results are obtained by a method that is completely independent of galaxy surveys and, especially, there is no detection limit about the host galaxy luminosity in our analysis, giving a strong constraint on the star-formation activity in high-$z$ dwarf galaxies or intergalactic space.

Star formation on galactic scales

AbstractNew multi-wavelength data on nearby galaxies are providing a much more accurate and complete observational picture of star formation on galactic scales. Here I briefly report on recent results from the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). These provide new constraints on the frequency and lifetime of deeply obscured star-forming regions in galaxies, the measurement of dust-corrected star formation rates in galaxies, and the form of the spatially-resolved Schmidt law.

ChandraObservations of Diffuse Gas and Luminous X‐Ray Sources around the X‐Ray–bright Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1600

We observed the X-ray-bright E3 galaxy NGC 1600 and nearby members of the NGC 1600 group with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory ACIS-S3 to study their X-ray properties. Unresolved emission dominates the observation; however, we resolved some of the emission into 71 sources, most of which are low-mass X-ray binaries associated with NGC 1600. Twenty-one of the sources have LX > 2 ? 1039 ergs s-1 (0.3-10.0 keV; assuming they are at the distance of NGC 1600), marking them as ultraluminous X-ray point source (ULX) candidates; we expect that only 11 ? 2 are unrelated foreground/background sources. NGC 1600 may have the largest number of ULX candidates in an early-type galaxy to date; however, cosmic variance in the number of background active galactic nuclei cannot be ruled out. The spectrum and luminosity function (LF) of the resolved sources are more consistent with sources found in other early-type galaxies than with sources found in star-forming regions of galaxies. The source LF and the spectrum of the unresolved emission both indicate that there are a large number of unresolved point sources. We propose that these sources are associated with globular clusters (GCs) and that NGC 1600 has a large GC specific frequency. Observations of the GC population in NGC 1600 would be very useful for testing this prediction. Approximately 50%-75% of the unresolved flux comes from diffuse gaseous emission. The spectral fits, hardness ratios, and X-ray surface brightness profile all point to two gas components. We interpret the soft inner component (a 25'', kT ~ 0.85 keV) as the interstellar medium of NGC 1600 and the hotter outer component (a 25'', kT ~ 1.5 keV) as the intragroup medium of the NGC 1600 group. The X-ray image shows several interesting structures. First, there is a central region of excess emission that is roughly cospatial with H? and dust filaments immediately west of the center of NGC 1600. There appear to be holes in the X-ray emission to the north and south of the galaxy center that are roughly coincident with the lobes of the NGC 1600 radio source. On larger scales, there is excess emission to the northeast, which we suggest may indicate the center of the group potential. The group galaxy NGC 1603 shows a tail of X-ray emission to its west that is probably due to ram pressure stripping.

Near‐Infrared Integral Field Spectroscopy of Star‐forming Galaxies

The Palomar Integral Field Spectrograph was used to probe a variety of environments in nine nearby galaxies that span a range of morphological types, luminosities, metallicities, and infrared-to-blue ratios. For the first time, near-infrared spectroscopy was obtained for nuclear or bright H II regions in star-forming galaxies over two spatial dimensions (57 × 100) in the [Fe II] (1.257 μm), [Fe II] (1.644 μm), Paβ (1.282 μm), H2 (2.122 μm), and Brγ (2.166 μm) transition lines. These data yield constraints on various characteristics of the star-forming episodes in these regions, including their strength, maturity, spatial variability, and extinction. The H II regions stand out from the nuclei. Unlike observations of nuclear regions, H II region near-infrared observations do not show a spatial coincidence of the line and continuum emission; the continuum and line maps of H II regions usually show distinct and sometimes spatially separated morphologies. Gauging from Paβ and Brγ equivalent widths and luminosities, the H II regions have younger episodes of star formation than the nuclei and more intense radiation fields. Near-infrared line ratio diagnostics suggest that H II regions have "purer" starbursting properties. The correlation between ionizing photon density and mid-infrared color is consistent with the star formation activity level being higher for H II regions than for nuclei. And though the interpretation is complicated, on a purely empirical basis the H II regions show lower Fe1+ abundances than nuclei by an order of magnitude.

On the Association of Gamma‐Ray Bursts with Massive Stars: Implications for Number Counts and Lensing Statistics

Recent evidence appears to link gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to star-forming regions in galaxies at cosmological distances. If short-lived massive stars are the progenitors of GRBs, the rate of events per unit cosmological volume should be an unbiased tracer (i.e., unaffected by dust obscuration and surface brightness limits) of the cosmic history of star formation. Here we use realistic estimates for the evolution of the stellar birthrate in galaxies to model the number counts, redshift distribution, and time-delay factors of GRBs. We present luminosity function fits to the BATSE log N- log P relation for different redshift distributions of the bursts. Our results imply about 1-2 GRBs for every one million Type II supernovae, and a characteristic "isotropic-equivalent" burst luminosity in the range 3-20 × 1051 ergs s-1 (for H0 = 65 km s-1 Mpc-1). We compute the rate of multiple imaging of background GRBs due to foreground mass condensations in a Λ-dominated cold dark matter cosmology, assuming that dark halos approximate singular isothermal spheres on galaxy scales and Navarro-Frenk-White profiles on group/cluster scales, and are distributed in mass according to the Press-Schechter model. We show that the expected sensitivity increase of Swift relative to BATSE could result in a few strongly lensed individual bursts detected down to a photon flux of 0.1 cm-2 s-1 in a 3 yr survey. Because of the partial sky coverage, however, it is unlikely that the Swift satellite will observe recurrent events (lensed pairs).

The Youngest Star-Forming Regions in Galaxies: Giant Compact HII Regions and Protoglobular Clusters?

Subarcsecond radio and infrared observations reveal a class of luminous, obscured, optically thick HII regions associated with extremely large young clusters in nearby starburst galaxies. VLA images show bright radio nebulae with ne ∼ 104 cm−3, densities characteristic of young Galactic compact HII regions. Excitation of the nebulae requires the presence of several thousand O stars within regions of 1-10 pc extent, corresponding to clusters containing 105–106 stars. The compact nebulae are also bright in the mid-infrared, and can for significant fractions of not only the total IR luminosity, but also the total bolometric luminosity, of the parent galaxies. The prototype for these “supernebulae” is the large, obscured cluster in the dwarf galaxy NGC 5253.

On the Dynamical and Physical State of the “Diffuse Ionized Medium” in Nearby Spiral Galaxies

We report the initial results from a program to study the morphology, physical state, and kinematics of the "diffuse ionized medium" (DIM) in a sample of the nearest and brightest late-type galaxies. For each of five galaxies (NGC 2403, M81, NGC 4395, M51, and M101), we have analyzed deep narrowband Hα images of the entire star-forming disk and long-slit spectra of the inner (~10 kpc) disk with a resolution of 40-75 km s-1. We find that the DIM covers most of the star-forming disk and is morphologically related to the presence of high surface brightness gas (the giant H II regions). The DIM and the giant H II regions differ systematically in their physical and dynamical state. The DIM is characterized by enhanced emission in the low-ionization forbidden lines ([O I], [N II], and [S II]), and even the high-ionization [O III] λ5007 line is moderately strong in the DIM in at least three cases. This last result contrasts with upper limits on the [O III] surface brightness in the local DIM of our own Galaxy (the "Reynolds Layer"). We directly verify the inference made by Lehnert and Heckman that the DIM contributes significantly to the spatially integrated (global) emission-line ratios measured in late-type galaxies. We also find that the DIM is more disturbed kinematically than the gas in the giant H II regions. The deconvolved (intrinsic) widths of the Hα and [N II] λ6584 lines range from 30 to 100 km s-1 (FWHM) in the DIM compared to 20-50 km s-1 in the giant H II regions. The high-ionization gas in the DIM is more kinematically disturbed than the low-ionization gas: the [O III] λ5007 lines have intrinsic widths of 70-150 km s-1. The differing kinematics implies that the DIM is not a single monolithic phase of the ISM. Instead, it may consist of a "quiescent" DIM with a low ionization state and small scale height (few hundred parsec) and a "disturbed" DIM with a high ionization state and moderate scale height (0.5-1 kpc). We argue that the quiescent DIM is most likely photoionized by radiation from O stars leaking out of giant H II regions (although this requires fine-tuning the opacity of galactic disks to ionizing radiation). The disturbed DIM is most likely heated by the mechanical energy supplied by supernovae and stellar winds. Since the disturbed DIM accounts for only a minority (<20%) of the Hα emission in the regions we have studied, there is no fundamental energetics problem with this model, but it does require mechanically heated gas to have a high areal covering factor in the inner disk (which needs to be confirmed observationally). We find no clear discontinuity between the physical and dynamical properties of the giant H II regions and the quiescent DIM. The quiescent DIM is morphologically related to the giant H II regions and there is a smooth dependence of the emission-line ratios and emission-line widths on the surface brightness of the emission. Thus, we suggest that a unified approach to the study of the DIM and giant H II regions in star-forming galaxies will prove fruitful.

THE CO(J=2-1)/CO(J=1-0) Luminosity Ratio in the Orion Giant Molecular Clouds

AbstractThe first results of large-area mapping observations of nearby giant molecular clouds in the CO(J=2-1) emission are presented. The CO(J=2-1)/CO(J=1-0) luminosity ratio is 0.75 and 0.62 for the Orion A and B clouds, respectively. These values are consistent with those observed typically in disks of galaxies (−0.6), and are significantly lower than large values (≳1) often observed in active star-forming regions in galaxies. Active star-forming regions in galaxies cannot be explained by ensemble of Orion-like GMCs; they may contain a different population of molecular clouds with high J-2-1/J=1-0 luminosity ratio.