The evolution of superbubbles and the detection of Lyα in star-forming galaxies

The detection of Ly α emission in star-forming galaxies in different shapes and intensities (always smaller than predicted for case B recombination) has puzzled the astronomical community for more than a decade. Here we use two-dimensional calculations to follow the evolution of superbubbles and of the H  ii regions generated by the output of UV photons from massive stars. We show the impact caused by massive star formation in the ISM of different galaxies and we look at the conditions required to detect Ly α emission from a nuclear H  ii region, and the variety of profiles that may be expected as a function of time.