Imaging and Spectroscopic Survey of Wolf-Rayet Galaxies

Buckalew, Brent; Dufour, Reginald; Rubin, Robert; Esteban, Cesar
Bibliographical reference

NOAO Proposal ID #1999A-0282

Advertised on:
2
1999
Number of authors
4
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We are continuing a comprehensive systematic study of the properties of Wolf-Rayet Galaxies (WRGs) based on data from ground and space observatories. In this proposal we request time on the KPNO 0.9m and 2.1m telescopes to undertake CCD imagery and spectroscopy of a group of WRGs. Our basic aim is threefold: (a) identify and characterize the properties of WRGs, (b) evaluate the effects that the enhanced populations of Wolf-Rayet stars (WRS) have on the ISM, and (c) determine the phase's time-scale and why these systems are seen in this current stage. We propose to obtain CCD imagery on the 0.9m to study the morphology and distribution of the ionized gas, and to locate the Wolf- Rayet stellar populations (using their He II (lambda)4686 emission). Then, we propose to follow-up with spectroscopy on the 2.1m to determine physical conditions in the local ISM (T_e, N_e, abundances, etc.) around the WRS, how these spectral and physical properties depend on the presence of WRS, the numbers and influence of the WRS in the OB associations of the galaxies, and if the winds and radiation field of the Wolf-Rayet population affect the magnitude of temperature fluctuations in the surrounding H II regions compared to ``normal'' OB associations.