Bibcode
DOI
Mendez, D. I.; Esteban, C.
Referencia bibliográfica
Astrophysical Journal v.488, p.652
Fecha de publicación:
10
1997
Número de citas
30
Número de citas referidas
30
Descripción
High-resolution spectroscopic observations have been obtained for the
Wolf-Rayet galaxies He 2-10, II Zw 40, POX 4, and Tol 35. Several
subregions have been selected in each slit position in order to
investigate possible spatial variations in the line profiles, radial
velocities, and ionization conditions of the gas. The most remarkable
feature of the spectra is the presence of asymmetric broad low-intensity
wings in the profiles of the brightest emission lines. These spectral
features are detected farther out from the star-forming knots, showing
linear dimensions between 300 pc and 4.1 kpc. The maximum expansion
velocity measured for this gas is between 120 and 340 km s-1 and appears
to be quite constant along the slit for all the objects. Additional
general properties of the spectra are (1) the quoted emission-line
ratios are similar in the narrow and broad components, (2) no systematic
differences of the behavior of the broad and narrow components have been
found along the major and minor axis of the galaxies, and (3) the
spatial distribution of the ionized gas is peaked centrally. Different
mechanisms capable of producing the observed broad spectral features are
discussed: cloud-cloud collisions in virialized gas, "academic"
superbubbles, champagne flows, and superbubble blowout. It is concluded
that superbubble blowout expanding over a cloudy medium can explain the
observational properties in a reasonable manner.