arXiv · astro-ph/0204301
Dynamical condition of neutral hydrogen envelopes of dwarf galaxies and their possible morphological evolution
Abstract
We investigate the star-formation history of gas-rich dwarf galaxies, taking account of the dynamical evolution of their neutral hydrogen (H{\sc i}) envelope. Gas-rich dwarfs are classified into blue compact dwarfs (BCDs) and dwarf irregulars (dIrrs). In this paper, their H{\sc i} envelope is clearly shown not to be blown away by their stellar feedback. This is concluded since the observed star-formation rate (SFR) of gas-rich dwarfs is generally smaller than a critical SFR, $ψ_{\rm crit}$, at which stellar feedback accelerates the H{\sc i} envelope to the escape velocity. From this standpoint and the chemical property of sample BCDs, we suggest two possibilities; (1) The H{\sc i} gas in the envelope of BCDs is consumed to fuel their star-formation; and (2) BCDs have a similar star-formation history. We also discuss morphological evolution among dwarf galaxies. As long as gas-rich dwarfs are isolated, it is difficult for them to evolve into dwarf ellipticals (dEs). When the H{\sc i} envelope in gas-rich dwarfs is consumed in subsequent star-formation, a morphological exchange between BCDs and dIrrs is still expected, consistent with previous studies. If the SFR of gas-rich dwarfs was much higher than $ψ_{\rm crit}$ in the past, interestingly, an evolutionary scenario from dEs to gas-rich dwarfs is possible.
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Yuka Y. Tajiri, Hideyuki Kamaya. 2002-04-18. Dynamical condition of neutral hydrogen envelopes of dwarf galaxies and their possible morphological evolution. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%3A20020594
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