The M81 group dwarf irregular galaxy DDO 165. II. Connecting recent star formation with interstellar medium structures and kinematics

John M. Cannon, Hans P. Most, Evan D. Skillman, Daniel R. Weisz, David Cook, Andrew E. Dolphin, Robert C. Kennicutt, Janice Lee, Anil Seth, Fabian Walter, Steven R. Warren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We compare the stellar populations and complex neutral gas dynamics of the M81 group dIrr galaxy DDO165 using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Array. Cannon et al. in PaperI of this series identified two kinematically distinct H I components, multiple localized high velocity gas features, and eight H I holes and shells (the largest of which spans 2.2 × 1.1kpc). Using the spatial and temporal information from the stellar populations in DDO165, we compare the patterns of star formation (SF) over the past 500Myr with the H I dynamics. We extract localized star formation histories within 6 of the 8 H I holes identified in PaperI, as well as 23 other regions that sample a range of stellar densities and neutral gas properties. From population synthesis modeling, we derive the energy outputs (from stellar winds and supernovae) of the stellar populations within these regions over the last 100Myr, and compare with refined estimates of the energies required to create the H I holes. In all cases, we find that "feedback" is energetically capable of creating the observed structures in the interstellar medium (ISM). Numerous regions with significant energy inputs from feedback lack coherent H I structures but show prominent localized high velocity gas features; this feedback signature is a natural product of temporally and spatially distributed SF. In DDO165, the extended period of heightened SF activity (lasting more than 1Gyr) is energetically capable of creating the observed holes and high velocity gas features in the neutral ISM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number36
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume735
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2011

Keywords

  • galaxies: dwarf
  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: individual (DDO 165)
  • galaxies: irregular

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