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Register a new userVLT/X-shooter observations of blue compact galaxies Haro 11 and ESO 338-IG 004
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(abridged) Strongly star-forming galaxies of subsolar metallicities are typical of the high-redshift universe. Here we therefore provide accurate data for two low-z analogs, the well-known low-metallicity emission-line galaxies Haro 11 and ESO 338-IG 004. On the basis of Very Large Telescope/X-shooter spectroscopic observations in the wavelength range 3000-24000AA, we use standard direct methods to derive physical conditions and element abundances. Furthermore, we use X-shooter data together with Spitzer observations in the mid-infrared range to attempt to find hidden star formation. We derive interstellar oxygen abundances of 12 + log O/H = 8.33+/-0.01, 8.10+/-0.04, and 7.89+/-0.01 in the two HII regions B and C of Haro 11 and in ESO 338-IG 004, respectively. The observed fluxes of the hydrogen lines correspond to the theoretical recombination values after correction for extinction with a single value of the extinction coefficient C(Hbeta) across the entire wavelength range from the near-ultraviolet to the NIR and mid-infrared for each of the studied HII regions. Therefore there are no emission-line regions contributing to the line emission in the NIR range, which are hidden in the optical range. The agreement between the extinction-corrected and CLOUDY-predicted fluxes implies that a HII region model including only stellar photoionisation is able to account for the observed fluxes, in both the optical and NIR ranges. All observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) can be reproduced quite well across the whole wavelength range by model SEDs except for Haro 11B, where there is a continuum flux excess at wavelengths >1.6mum. It is possible that one or more red supergiant stars are responsible for the NIR flux excess in Haro 11B. We find evidence of a luminous blue variable (LBV) star in Haro 11C.
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(abridged) We present VLT/X-shooter spectroscopic observations in the wavelength range 3000-23000A of the extremely metal-deficient blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy PHL 293B containing a luminous blue variable (LBV) star. We determine abundances of N, O, Ne, S, Ar, and Fe and study the properties of the LBV from the fluxes and widths of broad emission lines. We derive an interstellar oxygen abundance of 12+log O/H = 7.71+/-0.02, which is in agreement with previous determinations. The observed fluxes of narrow Balmer, Paschen and Brackett hydrogen lines correspond to the theoretical recombination values after correction for extinction with a single value C(Hbeta) = 0.225. This implies that the star-forming region observed in the optical range is the only source of ionisation and there is no additional source of ionisation that is seen in the NIR range but is hidden in the optical range. For the LBV star in PHL 293B we find broad emission with P Cygni profiles in several Balmer hydrogen emission lines and for the first time in several Paschen hydrogen lines and in several HeI emission lines, implying temporal evolution of the LBV on a time scale of 8 years. The Halpha luminosity of the LBV star is by one order of magnitude higher than the one obtained for the LBV star in NGC 2363=Mrk 71 which has a slightly higher metallicity 12+logO/H = 7.87. The terminal velocity of the stellar wind in the low-metallicity LBV of PHL293B is high, ~800 km/s, and is comparable to that seen in spectra of some extragalactic LBVs during outbursts. We find that the averaged terminal velocities derived from the Paschen and HeI emission lines are by some ~40-60 km/s lower than those derived from the Balmer emission lines. This probably indicates the presence of the wind accelerating outward.
We present far infrared (FIR) spectroscopy of the luminous blue compact galaxy (BCG) Haro 11 (ESO 350-IG38) obtained with the ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) in low resolution mode. This metal poor dwarf merger is an extremely hot IRAS source with a high [CII]158um/CO(1-0) flux ratio. We discuss the balance between dust and line cooling in the photodissociated regions (PDR), in particular the role of the [CII] line, and derive the basic properties of the PDR gas. While samples of other starburst galaxies show a correlation between the [CII]/FIR flux ratio and the IRAS f60/f100 ratio, Haro 11 deviates significantly from this relationship being brighter in [CII] than average. We propose that the relationship is caused by an increasing optical depth with increasing IRAS temperature but that the low metallicity and the extreme starburst properties of Haro 11 allow the medium to be thin despite its high f60/f100 ratio, explaining the [CII] excess. This leaves room for a more optimistic view on the possibilities to detect massive starforming mergers at high redshifts, using the [CII] line.
Luminous blue compact galaxies, common at z~1 but now relatively rare, show disturbed kinematics in emission lines. As part of a programme to understand their formation and evolution, we have investigated the stellar dynamics of a number of nearby objects in this class. We obtained long-slit spectra with VLT/FORS2 in the spectral region covering the near-infrared calcium triplet. In this paper we focus on the well-known luminous blue compact galaxy ESO 338-IG04 (Tololo 1924-416). A previous investigation, using Fabry-Perot interferometry, showed that this galaxy has a chaotic H-alpha velocity field, indicating that either the galaxy is not in dynamical equilibrium or that H-alpha does not trace the gravitational potential due to feedback from star formation. Along the apparent major axis, the stellar and ionised gas velocities for the most part follow each other. The chaotic velocity field must therefore be a sign that the young stellar population in ESO 338-IG04 is not in dynamical equilibrium. The most likely explanation, which is also supported by its morphology, is that the galaxy has experienced a merger and that this has triggered the current starburst. Summarising the results of our programme so far, we note that emission-line velocity fields are not always reliable tracers of stellar motions, and go on to assess the implications for kinematic studies of similar galaxies at intermediate redshift.
We present VLA HI imaging of two blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies, Haro 2 and Haro 4, and of the spiral galaxy Haro 26, which is projected some 22 SW of Haro 4. We also show a map of the CO(1-0) distribution of Haro 2 obtained with the OVRO millimeter array, as well as derive an upper limit for CO(2-1) emission from Haro 4 obtained with the CSO. The HI data of Haro 2 reveal that the kinematical major axis lies perpendicular to the photometric major axis, indicating that the atomic hydrogen rotates about the major axis of the galaxy. This confirms earlier indications based on CCD photometry that Haro 2 is a dust-lane dE rather than a dIrr. We propose that the present neutral and molecular ISM configuration is due to recent gas accretion or a merger. The HI distribution and dynamics of Haro 4 and the neighboring spiral Haro 26 suggest that they are currently undergoing a tidal interaction, reinforcing the notion that interactions play an important role in triggering the star formation witnessed in Blue Compact Galaxies.
We present high-resolution echelle spectroscopy, obtained with the UVES spectrograph on ESO/VLT, of two luminous star clusters in the metal-poor blue compact galaxy ESO 338-IG04 at a distance of 37.5 Mpc. Cross-correlating with template stars, we obtain line-of-sight velocity dispersions of 33 and 17 km/s. By combining with size estimates from Hubble Space Telescope images we infer dynamical masses of 1.3x10^7 and 4.0x10^6 solar masses for the two clusters, making them among the most massive known. The less massive cluster is the faintest cluster for which a dynamical mass has yet been obtained. In both clusters we detect Balmer absorption lines which we use to estimate their ages. From the younger (~6 Myr) and more massive cluster, we detect He II 4686 emission of intermediate width, indicating the presence of very massive O-stars. Moreover, analysis of the [O III] 5007 and H-alpha emission lines from the region near the younger cluster indicates that it is associated with a bubble expanding at ~40 km/s. We also see from the Na I D absorption lines indications of neutral gas flows towards the younger cluster. We compare the dynamical masses with those derived from photometry and discuss implications for the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in each cluster. Both clusters are compatible with rather normal IMFs which will favour their long-term survival and evolution into massive bona fide globular clusters.
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