Bibcode
Gutiérrez, L.; Beckman, J. E.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 710, Issue 1, pp. L44-L48 (2010).
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2
2010
Citations
38
Refereed citations
36
Description
Using Advanced Camera for Surveys-Hubble Space Telescope images to yield
continuum-subtracted photometric maps in Hα of the Sbc galaxy M51
and the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 4449, we produced extensive (over
2000 regions for M51 and over 200 regions for NGC 4449) catalogs of
parameters of their H II regions: their Hα luminosities,
equivalent radii, and coordinates with respect to the galaxy centers.
From these data we derived, for each region, its mean
luminosity-weighted electron density, langne rang, determined
from the Hα luminosity and the radius, R, of the region. Plotting
these densities against the radii of the regions, we find excellent fits
for langne rang varying as R -1/2. This relatively
simple relation has not, as far as we know, been predicted from models
of H II region structure, and should be useful in constraining future
models. Plotting the densities against the galactocentric radii, r, of
the regions, we find good exponential fits with scale lengths of close
to 10 kpc for both galaxies. These values are comparable to the scale
lengths of the H I column densities for both galaxies, although their
optical structures, related to their stellar components, are very
different. This result indicates that to a first approximation the H II
regions can be considered in pressure equilibrium with their
surroundings. We also plot the electron density of the H II regions
across the spiral arms of M51, showing an envelope which peaks along the
ridgelines of the arms.
Related projects
Kinematic, Structural and Composition Studies of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Media
The basic objective of the broject is to investigate the evolution of galaxies by deepening our understanding of the interaction between the insterstellar medium and the stars.The main technique which we use is the two-dimensional kinematic study of whole galaxies observed using our instrument:GHaFaS, a Fabry-Perot interferometer on the William
Prof.
John E. Beckman