No Arabic abstract
We wish to clarify whether strong magnetic fields can be effectively generated in typically low-mass dwarf galaxies and to assess the role of dwarf galaxies in the magnetization of the Universe. We performed a search for radio emission and magnetic fields in an unbiased sample of 12 Local Group (LG) irregular and dwarf irregular galaxies with the 100m Effelsberg telescope at 2.64 and 4.85GHz. Magnetic fields in LG dwarfs are three times weaker than in the normal spirals (<4.2+-1.8muG). The production of total magnetic fields appears to be regulated mainly by the star-formation surface density, with the power-law exponent of 0.30+-0.04, or by the gas surface density (with the exponent 0.47+-0.09). In addition, we find systematically stronger fields in objects of higher global star-formation rate. The dwarf galaxies follow a similar far-infrared relationship (with a slope of 0.91+-0.08) to that determined for high surface brightness spiral galaxies. The magnetic field strength in dwarf galaxies does not correlate with their maximum rotational velocity, indicating a small-scale rather than a large-scale dynamo process. If magnetization of the Universe by galactic outflows is coeval with its metal enrichment, we show that more massive objects (such as Lyman Break Galaxies) can efficiently magnetize the intergalactic medium with a magnetic field strength of about 0.8nG out to a distance of 160-530kpc at redshifts 5-3, respectively. Several times weaker fields and shorter magnetization distances are expected from primordial dwarf galaxies. We also predict that most star-forming local dwarfs might have magnetized their surroundings up to about 0.1muG within about 5kpc distance. Strong magnetic fields (>6muG) are observed only in dwarfs of extreme characteristics while typical LG dwarfs are unsuitable objects for the efficient supply of magnetic fields to the intergalactic medium.
We compare the cumulative star formation histories (SFHs) of Local Group (LG) dwarf galaxies with those in the volume-limited ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST) sample (D < 4 Mpc), in order to understand how typical the LG dwarf galaxies are relative to those in the nearby universe. The SFHs were derived in a uniform manner from high quality optical color-magnitude diagrams constructed from Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We find that the {it mean} cumulative SFHs of the LG dwarfs are comparable to the mean cumulative SFHs of the ANGST sample for the three different morphological types (dwarf spheroidals/ellipticals: dSph/dE; dwarf irregulars: dI; transition dwarfs: dTrans). We also discuss effects such as population gradients and systematic uncertainties in the stellar models that may influence the derived SFHs. Both the ANGST and Local Group dwarf galaxies show a consistent and strong morphology-density relationship, emphasizing the importance of environment in the evolution of dwarf galaxies. Specifically, we confirm that dIs are found at lower densities and higher luminosities than dSphs, within this large sample. We also find that dTrans are located in similar environments to those occupied by dwarf irregular galaxies, but have systematically lower luminosities that are more comparable to those of dwarf spheroidals. The similarity of the SFHs and morphology-density relationships of the LG and ANGST dwarf galaxies suggests that the LG dwarfs are a good representation of dwarf galaxies in the local universe.
We present detailed chemical abundances of Fe, Ca and Ba for 17 globular clusters (GCs) in 5 Local Group dwarf galaxies: NGC 205, NGC 6822, WLM, the SMC and LMC. These abundances are part of a larger sample of over 20 individual elements measured in GCs in these galaxies using a new analysis method for high resolution, integrated light spectra. Our analysis also provides age and stellar population constraints. The existence of GCs in dwarf galaxies with a range of ages implies that there were episodes of rapid star formation throughout the history of these galaxies; the abundance ratios of these clusters suggest that the duration of these burst varied considerably from galaxy to galaxy. We find evolution of Fe, Ca, and Ba with age in the LMC, SMC, and NGC 6822 that is consistent with extended, lower-efficiency SF between bursts, with an increasing contribution of low-metallicity AGB ejecta at late times. Our sample of GCs in NGC 205 and WLM are predominantly old and metal-poor with high [Ca/Fe] ratios, implying that the early history of these galaxies was marked by consistently high SF rates.
Do molecular clouds collapse to form stars at the same rate in all environments? In large spiral galaxies, the rate of transformation of H2 into stars (hereafter SFE) varies little. However, the SFE in distant objects (z~1) is much higher than in the large spiral disks that dominate the local universe. Some small local group galaxies share at least some of the characteristics of intermediate-redshift objects, such as size or color. Recent work has suggested that the Star Formation Efficiency (SFE, defined as the SFRate per unit H2) in local Dwarf galaxies may be as high as in the distant objects. A fundamental difficulty in these studies is the independent measure of the H2 mass in metal-deficient environments. At 490 kpc, NGC6822 is an excellent choice for this study; it has been mapped in the CO(2-1) line using the multibeam receiver HERA on the 30 meter IRAM telescope, yielding the largest sample of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in this galaxy. Despite the much lower metallicity, we find no clear difference in the properties of the GMCs in NGC 6822 and those in the Milky Way except lower CO luminosities for a given mass. Several independent methods indicate that the total H2 mass in NGC 6822 is about 5 x 10^6 Msun in the area we mapped and less than 10^7 Msun in the whole galaxy. This corresponds to a NH2/ICO ~ 4 x 10^{21} cm^-2 /(Kkm/s) over large scales, such as would be observed in distant objects, and half that in individual GMCs. No evidence was found for H2 without CO emission. Our simulations of the radiative transfer in clouds are entirely compatible with these NH2/ICO values. The SFE implied is a factor 5 - 10 higher than what is observed in large local universe spirals.
(abridged) We investigate the possibility to recognize the magnetic field structures in nearby galaxies and to test the cosmological evolution of their large- and small-scale magnetic fields with the SKA and its precursors. We estimate the required density of the background polarized sources detected with the SKA for reliable reconstruction and reconstruction of magnetic field structures in nearby spiral galaxies. The dynamo theory is applied to distant galaxies to explore the evolution of magnetic fields in distant galaxies in the context of a hierarchical dark matter cosmology. Under favorite conditions, a emph{recognition} of large-scale magnetic structures in local star-forming disk galaxies (at a distance $la 100$ Mpc) is possible from $ga 10$ RMs towards background polarized sources. Galaxies with strong turbulence or small inclination need more polarized sources for a statistically reliable recognition. A reliable emph{reconstruction} of the field structure without precognition needs at least 20 RM values on a cut along the projected minor axis which translates to $approx1200$ sources towards the galaxy. We demonstrate that early regular fields are already in place at $z sim 4$ (approximately 1.5 Gyr after the disk formation) in massive gas-rich galaxies ($>10^9$ M$_{sun}$) which then evolve to Milky-Way type galaxies. Major and minor mergers influence the star formation rate and geometry of the disk which has an effect of shifting the generation of regular fields in disks to later epochs. Predictions of the evolutionary model of regular fields, simulations of the evolution of turbulent and large-scale regular fields, total and polarized radio emission of disk galaxies, as well as future observational tests with the SKA are discussed.
The near and mid-infrared characteristics of large amplitude, Mira, variables in Local Group dwarf irregular galaxies (LMC, NGC 6822, IC 1613, Sgr dIG) are described. Two aspects of these variables are discussed. First, the short period (P < 420 days) Miras are potentially powerful distance indicators, provided that they have low circumstellar extinction, or can be corrected for extinction. These are the descendants of relatively low mass stars. Secondly, the longer period stars, many of which undergo hot bottom burning, are poorly understood. These provide new insight into the evolution of intermediate mass stars during the high mass-loss phases, but their use as distance indicators depends on a much firmer understanding of their evolution. The change in slope of the K period luminosity relation for O-rich stars that is seen around 400 to 420 days in the LMC is due to the onset of hot bottom burning. It will be sensitive to metallicity and should therefore be expected at different periods in populations with significant differences from the LMC. The [4.5] period-luminosity relation splits into two approximately parallel sequences. The fainter one fits stars where the mid-infrared flux originates from the stellar photosphere, while the brighter one fits observations dominated by the circumstellar shell.