DEEP OPTICAL IMAGING OF STARBURSTING “TRANSITION” DWARF GALAXIES

A subgroup of dwarf galaxies have characteristics of a possible evolutionary transition between star-forming systems and dwarf ellipticals. These systems host significant starbursts in combination with smooth, elliptical outer envelopes, and small H I content; they are low on gas and unlikely to sus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Astronomical journal Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 326 - 332
Main Authors Dellenbusch, Kate E, Gallagher III, John S, Knezek, Patricia M, Noble, Allison G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2008
Subjects
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
AVAILABILITY
COLOR
COOLING
DISTURBANCES
DWARF STARS
EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
HEATING
HOST
INTERACTIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
STARS
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Summary:A subgroup of dwarf galaxies have characteristics of a possible evolutionary transition between star-forming systems and dwarf ellipticals. These systems host significant starbursts in combination with smooth, elliptical outer envelopes, and small H I content; they are low on gas and unlikely to sustain high star-formation rates over significant cosmic time spans. We explore possible origins of such starburst "transition" dwarfs using moderately deep optical images. While galaxy-galaxy interactions could produce these galaxies, no optical evidence exists for tidal debris or other outer disturbances, and they also lack nearby giant neighbors which could supply recent perturbations. Colors of the outer regions indicate that star formation ceased >1 Gyr in the past, a longer time span than can be reasonably associated with the current starbursts. We consider mechanisms where the starbursts are tied either to interactions with other dwarfs or to the state of the interstellar medium, and discuss the poss
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ISSN:0004-6256
1538-3881
1538-3881
DOI:10.1088/0004-6256/135/1/326