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arXiv · astro-ph/9812317

An X-ray and Optical Investigation of the Starburst-driven Superwind in the Galaxy Merger Arp 299

T. M. Heckman·L. Armus·K. A. Weaver·J. Wang
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Abstract

We present a detailed investigation of the X-ray and optical properties of the starburst-merger system Arp299 (NGC 3690, Mrk 171), with an emphasis on its spectacular gaseous nebula. We analyse \rosat and \asca X-ray data and optical spectra and narrow-band images. We suggest that the on-going galaxy collision has tidally-redistributed the ISM of the merging galaxies. The optical emission-line nebula results as this gas is photoionized by radiation that escapes from the starburst, and is shock-heated, accelerated, and pressurized by a `superwind' driven by the collective effect of the starburst supernovae and stellar winds. The X-ray nebula in Arp 299 is is plausibly a mass-loaded flow of adiabatically-cooling gas that carries out a substantial fraction of the energy and metals injected by the starburst at close to the escape velocity from Arp 299. The mass outflow rate likely exceeds the star-formation rate in this system. We conclude that powerful starbursts are able to heat (and possibly eject) a significant fraction of the ISM in merging galaxies.

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T. M. Heckman, L. Armus, K. A. Weaver, J. Wang. 1998-12-16. An X-ray and Optical Investigation of the Starburst-driven Superwind in the Galaxy Merger Arp 299. https://doi.org/10.1086/307193

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