The most metal-poor galaxies

Summary. Metallicity is a key parameter that controls many aspects in the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. In this review we focus on the metal deficient galaxies, in particular the most metal-poor ones, because they play a crucial r?le in the cosmic scenery. We first set the stage by discussing the difficult problem of defining a global metallicity and how this quantity can be measured for a given galaxy. The mechanisms that control the metallicity in a galaxy are reviewed in detail and involve many aspects of modern astrophysics: galaxy formation and evolution, massive star formation, stellar winds, chemical yields, outflows and inflows etc. Because metallicity roughly scales as the galactic mass, it is among the dwarfs that the most metal-poor galaxies are found. The core of our paper reviews the considerable progress made in our understanding of the properties and the physical processes that are at work in these objects. The question on how they are related and may evolve from one class of objects to another is discussed. While discussing metal-poor galaxies in general, we present a more detailed discussion of a few very metal-poor blue compact dwarf galaxies like IZw18. Although most of what is known relates to our local universe, we show that it pertains to our quest for primeval galaxies and is connected to the question of the origin of structure in the universe. We discuss what do QSO absorption lines and known distant galaxies tell us already? We illustrate the importance of star-forming metal-poor galaxies for the determination of the primordial helium abundance, their use as distance indicator and discuss the possibility to detect nearly metal-free galaxies at high redshift from Ly emission. Received 19 August 1999 / Published online: 15 February 2000     

A multiwavelength study of the early evolution of the classical nova LMC 1988 1

We study star-formation-inducing mechanisms in galaxies through multiwavelength measurements of a sample of dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster described in Paper I. Our main goal is to test how star-formation-inducing mechanisms depend on several parameters of the galaxies, such as morphological type and hydrogen content. We derive the star formation rate and star formation histories of the galaxies, and check their dependence on other parameters.   Comparison of the sample galaxies with population synthesis models shows that these objects have significantly lower metallicity than the solar value. The colours can generally be explained as a combination of two different stellar populations: a young (3–20 Myr) metal-poor population which represents the stars currently forming presumably in a starburst, and an older (0.1–1 Gyr) population of previous stellar generations. There is evidence that the older stellar population was also formed in a starburst. This is consistent with the explanation that star formation in this type of objects takes place in short bursts followed by long quiescent periods.   No significant correlation is found between the star formation properties of the sample galaxies and their hydrogen content. Apparently, when star formation occurs in bursts, other parameters influence the star formation properties more significantly than the amount of atomic hydrogen. No correlation is found between the projected Virgocentric distance and the rate of star formation in the galaxies, suggesting that tidal interactions are not significant in triggering star formation in cluster dwarf galaxies.     

Star formation history up to z= 7.4: implications for gamma-ray bursts and cosmic metallicity evolution

The current Swift sample of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with measured redshifts allows us to test the assumption that GRBs trace star formation in the Universe. Some authors have claimed that the rate of GRBs increases with cosmic redshift faster than the star formation rate, whose cause is not yet known. In this paper, I investigate the possibility of interpreting the observed discrepancy between the GRB rate history and the star formation rate history using cosmic metallicity evolution. I am motivated by the observation that cosmic metallicity evolves with redshift and GRBs tend to occur in low-metallicity galaxies. First, I derive a star formation history up to redshift   z = 7.4  from an updated sample of star formation rate densities. This is obtained by adding the new ultraviolet measurements of Bouwens et al. and the new ultraviolet and infrared measurements of Reddy et al. to the existing sample compiled by Hopkins & Beacom. Then, adopting a simple model for the relation between GRB production and the cosmic metallicity history as proposed by Langer & Norman, I show that the observed redshift distribution of the Swift GRBs can be reproduced with good accuracy. Although the results are limited by the small size of the GRB sample and the poorly understood selection biases in detection and localization of GRBs and in redshift determination, they suggest that GRBs trace both star formation and metallicity evolution. If the star formation history can be accurately measured with other approaches, which is presumably achievable in the near future, it will be possible to determine the cosmic metallicity evolution using the study of the redshift distribution of GRBs.     

The morphology,kinematics and metallicity of blue-core galaxies

We select 107 blue-core galaxies from the MaNGA survey, studying their morphology, kinematics as well as the gas-phase metallicity. Our results are as follows:(i) In our sample, 26% of blue-core galaxies have decoupled gas-star kinematics, indicating external gas accretion;15% have bar-like structure and 8% show post-merger features, such as tidal tails and irregular gas/star velocity field. All these processes/features, such as accreting external misaligned gas, interaction and bar, can trigger gas inflow. Thus the central star-forming activities lead to bluer colors in their centers(blue-core galaxies).(ii) By comparing with the SDSS DR7 star-forming galaxy sample, we find that the blue-core galaxies have higher central gas-phase metallicity than what is predicted by the local mass-metallicity relation. We explore the origin of the higher metallicity, finding that not only the blue-core galaxies, but also the flat-gradient and red-core galaxies all have higher metallicity. This can be explained by the combined effect of redshift and galaxy color.     

发射线星系[OⅡ]λ3727/Hα谱线流量比的研究

利用从斯隆数字巡天(Sloan Digital Sky Survey,简称SDSS)第4次释放的光谱数据中选取的10~5个发射线星系样本,研究了[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα流量比与星系尘埃消光、气体电离态和金属丰度的关系.发现尘埃消光改正对[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα谱线流量比影响显著,消光改正前、后的[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα谱线流量比的中值分别为0.48和0.89;尘埃消光改正后,F([O_Ⅱ]λ3727)-F(Hα)的弥散显著减小.贫金属星系的[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα谱线流量比随星系气体的电离度增高而减小,而富金属星系不存在这种关系.另外,[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα流量比与星系金属丰度相关.当12+lg(O/H)8.5时,星系[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα流量比随金属丰度增加而下降;12+lg(O/H)8.5的星系,谱线流量比与金属丰度正相关.最后,利用气体电离度参数和星系的金属丰度,给出了计算不同类型星系[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα流量比的公式.LAMOST望远镜将观测到大量红移z0.4的星系光谱,利用该公式可以给出星系的[O_Ⅱ]λ3727/Hα流量比,从而可以利用[O_Ⅱ]λ3727谱线流量计算z0.4星系的恒星形成率.     

Photo's from Proceedings of the Third MicroQuasar Workshop; Granada Worshop on Galactic Relativistic Jet Sources – Granada,Spain, 11–13 September 2000

Knowledge of the molecular component of the ISM is fundamental to understand star formation. The H₂ component appears to dominate the gas mass in the inner parts of galaxies, while the HI component dominates in the outer parts. Observation of the CO and other lines in normal and starburst galaxies have questioned the CO-to-H₂ conversion factor, and detection of CO in dwarfs have shown how sensitive the conversion factor is to metallicity. Our knowledge has made great progress in recent years, because of sensitivity and spatial resolution improvements. Large-scale CO maps of nearby galaxies are now available, which extend our knowledge on global properties, radial gradients, and spiral structure of the molecular ISM. Millimetric interferometers reveal high velocity gradients in galaxy nuclei, and formation of embedded structures, like bars within bars. Galaxy interactions are very effective to enhance gas concentrations and trigger starbursts. Nuclear disks or rings are frequently observed, that concentrate the star formation activity. Since the density of starbursting galaxies is strongly increasing with redshift, the CO lines and the mm dust emission are a privileged tool to follow evolution of galaxies and observe the ISM dynamics at high redshift: they could give an answer about the debated question of the star-formation history, since many massive remote starbursts could be dust-enshrouded.     

Counter-rotating gas disk in the S0 galaxy IC 560

Acounter-rotating gas disk has been detected in the SA0 galaxy IC 560 located at the periphery of a sparse group of six late-type galaxies. The pattern of gas excitation and mid-infrared colors are indicative of ongoing star formation within 1 kpc of the center. Outside the gas disk with star formation the large-scale stellar disk of the galaxy has an old age and a very low metallicity, [Z/H] ≈ ?1. The source of external gas accretion onto IC 560 is undetected; the only option is a single infall of a companion rich in high-metallicity gas.     

Star cluster formation and star formation: the role of environment and star-formation efficiencies

By analyzing global starburst properties in various kinds of starburst and post-starburst galaxies and relating them to the properties of the star cluster populations they form, I explore the conditions for the formation of massive, compact, long-lived star clusters. The aim is to determine whether the relative amount of star formation that goes into star cluster formation as opposed to field star formation, and into the formation of massive long-lived clusters in particular, is universal or scales with star-formation rate, burst strength, star-formation efficiency, galaxy or gas mass, and whether or not there are special conditions or some threshold for the formation of star clusters that merit to be called globular clusters a few billion years later.     

The evolution of dwarf galaxies

We propose an evolutionary model for dwarf galaxies in which initially metal-poor gas-rich dwarf irregular (dI) galaxies evolve through bursting Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) stages and eventually fade from the BCD phase to become dwarf ellipticals (dE). During the bursting phase the surface brightness of the galaxy increases rapidly due to enhanced OB star formation. The source of fuel for the intermittent bursts of star formation is assumed to be primordial gas which continues to collapse onto the already formed central structure. The dE galaxies form as a result of eventual gas depletion through star formation.With this proposed dIBCDdE evolutionary sequence we can explain the similar photometric structure of the different dwarf types and the differences in their star formation rates, surface brightnesses,Hi contents and metallicities. A final central BCD burst can account for the nucleation in brighter dEs and their residual star formation, while earlier more widespread star formation bursts would fade to give an irregular dI. Inflow of gas may allow dEs to be less flattened than dIs.Using galaxy fading and metallicity models we can reproduce the observed number ratiosN(dI)N(BCD) andN(dI)N(dE) and also the observed metallicity magnitude relation of local dwarf spheroidal galaxies.     

Effects of massive star formation on the ISM of dwarf galaxies

We are studying star formation effects on the properties of the ISM in low metallicity environments using mid-infrared (MIR) and far-infrared (FIR) observations of starbursting dwarf galaxies taken with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). Effects of the hard pervasive radiation field on the gas and dust due to the dust-poor environments are apparent in both the dust and gas components. From a 158 μm [CII] survey we find enhanced I[CII]/FIR ratios in dwarf galaxies and I[CII]/I(CO) ratios up to 10 times higher than those for normal metallicity starburst galaxies. We consider MIR observations in understanding the star formation properties of dwarf galaxies and constraints on the stellar SED. Notably, the strong MIR [NeIII]/[NeII] ratios reveal the presence of current massive stellar populations <5 My old in NGC 1569, NGC 1140 and IIZw40. The MIR unidentified infrared bands (UIBs) are weak, if present at all, as a general characteristic in low metallicity environments, revealing the destruction of the smallest carbon particles (e.g. PAHs) over large spatial scales. This is confirmed with our dust modeling: mass fractions of PAHs are almost negligible compared to the larger silicate grains emitting in the FIR as well as the small carbon grains emitting in the MIR, which appear to be the source of the photoelectric gas heating in these galaxies, in view of the [CII] cooling.     

UVES Abundances of Stars in Nearby Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a galaxy in possession of a good quantity of gas must want to form stars. It is the details of how and why that baffle us all. The simplest theories either would have this process a carefully self-regulated affair, or one that goes completely out of control and is capable of wrecking the galaxy which hosts it. Of course the majority of galaxies seem to amble along somewhere between these two extremes, and the mean properties tend to favour a quiescent self-regulated evolutionary scenario. But there area variety of observations which require us to invoke transitory ‘bursts’ of star-formation at one time or another in most galaxy types. Several nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies have clearly determined star-formation histories with apparent periods of zero star formation followed by periods of fairly active star formation. If we are able to understand what separated these bursts we would understand several important phenomena in galaxy evolution. Were these galaxies able to clear out their gas reservoir in a burst of star formation? How did this gas return? or did it? Have these galaxies receieved gas from the IGM instead? Could stars from these types of galaxy contribute significantly to the halo population in our Galaxy? To answer these questions we need to combine accurate stellar photometry and Colour-Magnitude Diagram interpretation with detailed metal abundances to combine a star-formation rate versus time with a range of element abundances with time. Different elements trace different evolutionary process (e.g., relative contributions of type I and II supernovae). We often aren't even sure of the abundance spread in these galaxies. We have collected detailed high resolution UVES spectra of four nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies (Sculptor, Fornax, Leo I &; Carina) to begin to answer these questions. This is a precursor study to a more complete study with FLAMES. We presented at this meeting the initial results for the Sculptor and Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxies which have been previously had single element (low resolution) calcium abundance studies (Tolstoy et al., 2001). See Figures 1 and 2.     

Recent star-forming activity in local elliptical galaxies

The formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies (EGs) are still an open question. In particular, recent observations suggest that EGs are not only simple spheroidal systems of old stars. In this paper, we analyse a sample of EGs selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in order to study the star-forming activity in local EGs. Among these 487 ellipticals, we find that 13 EGs show unambiguous evidence of recent star formation activity betrayed by conspicuous nebular emission lines. Using the evolutionary stellar population synthesis models and Lick absorption line indices, we derive stellar ages, metallicities and α-element abundances, and thus reconstruct the star formation and chemical evolution history of the star-forming elliptical galaxies (SFEGs) in our sample.
We find that SFEGs have relative younger stellar population age, higher metallicity and lower stellar mass, and that their star formation history can be well described by a recent minor and short starburst superimposed on old stellar component. We also detect 11 E+A galaxies whose stellar population properties are closer to those of quiescent (normal) ellipticals than to star-forming ones. However, from the analysis of their absorption line indices, we note that our E+A galaxies show a significant fraction of intermediate-age stellar populations, remarkably different from the quiescent galaxies. This might suggest an evolutionary link between E+As and star-forming ellipticals. Finally, we confirm the relations between age, metallicity, α-element abundance and stellar mass for local EGs.     

Metallicity and star formation activities of the interacting system Arp 86 from observations with MOS on the Xinglong 2.16m telescope

We present an analysis of the metallicity and star formation activities of H II regions in the interacting system Arp 86, based on the first scientific observations using multi-object spectroscopy with the 2.16 m telescope at the Xinglong Observing Station. We find that the oxygen abundance gradient in Arp 86 is flatter than that in normal disk galaxies, which confirms that gas inflows caused by tidal forces during encounters can flatten the metallicity distributions in galaxies. The companion galaxy NGC 7752 is currently experiencing a galaxy-wide starburst with a higher star formation rate surface density than the main galaxy NGC 7753, which can be explained in that the companion galaxy is more susceptible to the effects of interaction than the primary. We also find that the galaxy 2MASX J23470758+2926531 has similar abundance and star formation properties to NGC 7753, and may be a part of the Arp 86 system.     

Cold gas accretion in galaxies

Evidence for the accretion of cold gas in galaxies has been rapidly accumulating in the past years. HI observations of galaxies and their environment have brought to light new facts and phenomena which are evidence of ongoing or recent accretion: (1) A large number of galaxies are accompanied by gas-rich dwarfs or are surrounded by HI cloud complexes, tails and filaments. This suggests ongoing minor mergers and recent arrival of external gas. It may be regarded, therefore, as direct evidence of cold gas accretion in the local universe. It is probably the same kind of phenomenon of material infall as the stellar streams observed in the halos of our galaxy and M 31. (2) Considerable amounts of extra-planar HI have been found in nearby spiral galaxies. While a large fraction of this gas is undoubtedly produced by galactic fountains, it is likely that a part of it is of extragalactic origin. Also the Milky Way has extra-planar gas complexes: the Intermediate- and High-Velocity Clouds (IVCs and HVCs). (3) Spirals are known to have extended and warped outer layers of HI. It is not clear how these have formed, and how and for how long the warps can be sustained. Gas infall has been proposed as the origin. (4) The majority of galactic disks are lopsided in their morphology as well as in their kinematics. Also here recent accretion has been advocated as a possible cause. In our view, accretion takes place both through the arrival and merging of gas-rich satellites and through gas infall from the intergalactic medium (IGM). The new gas could be added to the halo or be deposited in the outer parts of galaxies and form reservoirs for replenishing the inner parts and feeding star formation. The infall may have observable effects on the disk such as bursts of star formation and lopsidedness. We infer a mean “visible” accretion rate of cold gas in galaxies of at least . In order to reach the accretion rates needed to sustain the observed star formation (), additional infall of large amounts of gas from the IGM seems to be required.     

The first galaxies: assembly, cooling and the onset of turbulence

We investigate the properties of the first galaxies at   z ≳ 10  with highly resolved numerical simulations, starting from cosmological initial conditions and taking into account all relevant primordial chemistry and cooling. A first galaxy is characterized by the onset of atomic hydrogen cooling, once the virial temperature exceeds  ≃10⁴ K  , and its ability to retain photoheated gas. We follow the complex accretion and star formation history of a  ≃5 × 10⁷ M_⊙  system by means of a detailed merger tree and derive an upper limit on the number of Population III (Pop III) stars formed prior to its assembly. We investigate the thermal and chemical evolution of infalling gas and find that partial ionization at temperatures  ≳10⁴ K  catalyses the formation of  H₂  and hydrogen deuteride, allowing the gas to cool to the temperature of the cosmic microwave background. Depending on the strength of radiative and chemical feedback, primordial star formation might be dominated by intermediate-mass Pop III stars formed during the assembly of the first galaxies. Accretion on to the nascent galaxy begins with hot accretion, where gas is accreted directly from the intergalactic medium and shock heated to the virial temperature, but is quickly accompanied by a phase of cold accretion, where the gas cools in filaments before flowing into the parent halo with high velocities. The latter drives supersonic turbulence at the centre of the galaxy and could lead to very efficient chemical mixing. The onset of turbulence in the first galaxies thus likely marks the transition to Pop II star formation.     

Is I ZW 18 Really a Young Galaxy?

To understand the role of dwarfs in the context of galaxy formation and evolution, we are studying the star-formation history of some representative irregular and blue compact dwarf galaxies by comparing the observed colour–magnitude diagrams with synthetic ones based on homogeneous sets of stellar evolutionary tracks. Here we present the results obtained for the blue compact I Zw 18, the most metal-poor galaxy known. Our simulations suggest star-formation activity started around 1–0.3 Gyr ago, with evidence of an intense burst around 15–20 Myr ago. I Zw 18 has turned out not to be a young object as previously suggested. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accretion of gas on to nearby spiral galaxies

We present evidence for cosmological gas accretion on to spiral galaxies in the local universe. The accretion is seen through its effects on the dynamics of the extraplanar neutral gas. The accretion rates that we estimate for two nearby spiral galaxies are of the order of their star formation rates. Our model shows that most of the extraplanar gas is produced by supernova feedback (galactic fountain) and only 10–20 per cent comes from accretion. The accreting material must have low specific angular momentum about the disc's spin axis, although the magnitude of the specific angular momentum vector can be higher. We also explore the effects of a hot corona on the dynamics of the extraplanar gas and find that it is unlikely to be responsible for the observed kinematical pattern and the source of accreted gas. However, the interaction with the fountain flow should profoundly affect the hydrodynamics of the corona.     

星系形成与演化半解析理论研究的新进展

发展了的星系形成和演化的半解析理论,可以很好地再现不同红移时宇宙恒星形成率密度（ＳＦＲ）和中性气体共动密度的最新观测结果。对该理论各个不确定性因素对结果的影响作了说尽的讨论,并指出在中等红移星系间的相互作用可能是主宰恒星形成的决定性因素,根据宇宙学模型对观测和半解析理论的影响,对宇宙学参数作出限制。     

New photometric models of galactic evolution applied to the HDF

We summarize our modelling of galaxy photometric evolution (the GRASIL code). By including the effects of dust grains and PAH molecules in a two-phase clumpy medium, where clumps are associated with star-forming regions, we reproduce the observed UV to radio SEDs of galaxies with star formation rates from zero to several hundred M _⊙ yr^-1.GRASIL is a powerful tool for investigating star formation, the initial mass function and the supernova rate in nearby starbursts and normal galaxies, as well as for predicting the evolution of luminosity functions of different types of galaxies at wavelengths covering six decades. It may be interfaced with any device to provide the star formation and metallicity histories of a galaxy. As an application, we have investigated the properties of early-type galaxies in the HDF, tracking the contribution of this population to the cosmic star formation history, which has a broad peak between z = 1.5 and 4.To explain the absence of objects at z ≳ 1.3, we suggest a sequence of dust-enshrouded merger-driven starbursts in the first few Gyr of galaxy lifetimes. We are at present working on a complementary sample of late-type objects selected in a similar way. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.