No Arabic abstract
We present near-IR JH spectra of the central regions of the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 1569 using the Florida Image Slicer for Infrared Cosmology and Astrophysics (FISICA). The dust-penetrating properties and available spectral features of the near-IR, combined with the integral field unit (IFU) capability to take spectra of a field, make FISICA an ideal tool for this work. We use the prominent [He I] (1.083mu m) and Pabeta (1.282 mu m) lines to probe the dense star forming regions as well as characterize the general star forming environment around the super star clusters (SSCs) in NGC 1569. We find [He I] coincident with CO clouds to the north and west of the SSCs, which provides the first, conclusive evidence for embedded star clusters here.
We present new H-band echelle spectra, obtained with the NIRSPEC spectrograph at Keck II, for the massive star cluster B in the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 1569. From spectral synthesis and equivalent width measurements we obtain abundances and abundance patterns. We derive an Fe abundance of [Fe/H]=-0.63+/-0.08, a super-solar [alpha/Fe] abundance ratio of +0.31+/-0.09, and an O abundance of [O/H]=-0.29+/-0.07. We also measure a low 12C/13C = 5+/-1 isotopic ratio. Using archival imaging from the Advanced Camera for Surveys on board HST, we construct a colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) for the cluster in which we identify about 60 red supergiant (RSG) stars, consistent with the strong RSG features seen in the H-band spectrum. The mean effective temperature of these RSGs, derived from their observed colours and weighted by their estimated H-band luminosities, is 3790 K, in excellent agreement with our spectroscopic estimate of Teff = 3800+/-200 K. From the CMD we derive an age of 15-25 Myr, slightly older than previous estimates based on integrated broad-band colours. We derive a radial velocity of -78+/-3 km/s and a velocity dispersion of 9.6+/-0.3 km/s. In combination with an estimate of the half-light radius of 0.20+/-0.05 from the HST data, this leads to a dynamical mass of (4.4+/-1.1)E5 Msun. The dynamical mass agrees very well with the mass predicted by simple stellar population models for a cluster of this age and luminosity, assuming a normal stellar IMF. The cluster core radius appears smaller at longer wavelengths, as has previously been found in other extragalactic young star clusters.
This work presents an extended, neutral Hydrogen emission map around Magellanic-type dwarf irregular galaxy (dIm) NGC 1569. In the Spring of 2010, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) was used to map a 9 degree x 2 degree region in HI line emission that includes NGC 1569 and IC 342 as well as two other dwarf galaxies. The primary objective for these observations was to search for structures potentially connecting NGC 1569 with IC 342 group members in order to trace previous interactions and thus, provide an explanation for the starburst and peculiar kinematics prevalent in NGC 1569. A large, half-degree diameter HI cloud was detected that shares the same position and velocity as NGC 1569. Also, two long structures were discovered that are reminiscent of intergalactic filaments extending out in a v-shaped manner from NGC 1569 toward UGCA 92, a nearby dwarf galaxy. These filamentary structures extend for about 1.5 degrees, which is 77 kpc at NGC 1569. There is a continuous velocity succession with the 0.5 degree HI cloud, filaments, and main body of the galaxy. The 0.5 degree HI cloud and filamentary structures may be foreground Milky Way, but are suggestive as possible remnants of an interaction between NGC 1569 and UGCA 92. The data also show two tidal tails extending from UGCA 86 and IC 342, respectively. These structures may be part of a continuous HI bridge but more data are needed to determine if this is the case.
We present new results on the star formation history of the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 1569. The data were obtained with Hubble Space Telescopes NICMOS/NIC2 in the F110W (J) and F160W (H) near-infrared (NIR) filters and interpreted with the synthetic color-magnitude diagram method. The galaxy experienced a complex star formation (SF) activity. The best fit to the data is found by assuming three episodes of activity in the last 1-2 Gyr. The most recent and strong episode constrained by these NIR data started ~37 Myr ago and ended ~13 Myr ago, although we cannot exclude the possibility that up to three SF episodes occurred in this time interval. The average star-formation rate (SFR) of the episode is 3.2 Msun yr-1 kpc-2, in agreement with literature data. A previous episode produced stars between 150 Myr and 40 Myr ago, with a mean SFR about 2/3 lower than the mean SFR of the youngest episode. An older SF episode occurred about 1 Gyr ago. All these SFRs are 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than those derived for late-type dwarfs of the Local Group. In all cases an initial mass function similar to Salpeters allows for a good reproduction of the data, but we cannot exclude flatter mass functions. These results have been obtained adopting a distance of 2.2 Mpc and a reddening E(B-V)=0.56. A larger distance would require younger episodes and higher SFRs. We have explored some possible scenarios using the astrated mass in the best fit model, in order to constrain the past star formation history. We cannot rule out a low rate in the past SF but we can safely conclude that the last 1-2 Gyr have been peculiar.
We use the Wide Field Camera 3 onboard the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain deep, high-resolution photometry of the young (age ~ 300 Myr) star cluster NGC1856 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We compare the observed colour-magnitude diagram (CMD), after having applied a correction for differential reddening, with Monte Carlo simulations of simple stellar populations (SSPs) of various ages. We find that the main sequence turn-off (MSTO) region is wider than that derived from the simulation of a single SSP. Using constraints based on the distribution of stars in the MSTO region and the red clump, we find that the CMD is best reproduced using a combination of two different SSPs with ages separated by 80 Myr (0.30 and 0.38 Gyr, respectively). However, we can not formally exclude that the width of the MSTO could be due to a range of stellar rotation velocities if the efficiency of rotational mixing is higher than typically assumed. Using a King-model fit to the surface number density profile in conjunction with dynamical evolution models, we determine the evolution of cluster mass and escape velocity from an age of 10 Myr to the present age, taking into account the possible effects of primordial mass segregation. We find that the cluster has an escape velocity Vesc ~ 17 km/s at an age of 10 Myr, and it remains high enough during a period of ~ 100 Myr to retain material ejected by slow winds of first-generation stars. Our results are consistent with the presence of an age spread in NGC1856, in contradiction to the results of Bastian & Silva-Villa (2013).
Early release science observations of the cluster NGC3603 with the WFC3 on the refurbished HST allow us to study its recent star formation history. Our analysis focuses on stars with Halpha excess emission, a robust indicator of their pre-main sequence (PMS) accreting status. The comparison with theoretical PMS isochrones shows that 2/3 of the objects with Halpha excess emission have ages from 1 to 10 Myr, with a median value of 3 Myr, while a surprising 1/3 of them are older than 10 Myr. The study of the spatial distribution of these PMS stars allows us to confirm their cluster membership and to statistically separate them from field stars. This result establishes unambiguously for the first time that star formation in and around the cluster has been ongoing for at least 10-20 Myr, at an apparently increasing rate.