NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0310
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0310 |
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PI: Sungryong Hong, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, shong@astro.umass.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, LGRT-B 619E, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A., United States
CoI: Daniela Calzetti, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
CoI: John S. Gallagher III, University of Wisconsin-Madison
CoI: Mark S. Westmoquette, University College London
Title: The Structure of Shock Fronts in Starburst Galaxies
Abstract:
Stellar feedback - the return of mass and energy from star formation to the
interstellar medium(ISM) - is one of the primary engines of galaxy evolution.
Yet, the theoretical foundation of mechanical feedback is, to date,
unconstrained by observations. We propose to observe the shock fronts of two
nearby starburst galaxies, NGC3077 and He2-10, for which candidate shock
regions have been identified through HST/WFPC2 and ACS narrow--band imaging
(using the diagnostics [OIII]/H-beta and [SII]/H-alpha). We propose to use
GMOS/IFU with the R831 grating to resolve the kinematic components of the
H-alpha emission over a range of locations along the shock fronts, all of
which located about 100-200 pc from the center of the starburst(s), at the
position where the turbulent mixing layers should be replaced by the
outflowing gas (Westmoquette et al. 2007). We will determine not only whether
moving gas is present, but also its dynamical age, and the velocity structure
and the nature of the motions. By leveraging the HST data to identify a
priori the locations of the shocks, this proposal will provide the best
evidence to date for the presence/absence of ordered bulk motions well within
the central regions of galaxies, at the putative base of the gas outflows. We
will thus provide the necessary observational foundation to the quest for
understanding the nature of stellar feedback and its role in shaping galaxy
evolution.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0310 |
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