Triggering Big Bursts of Star Formation in Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies - Rescheduled from 9/6

Dwarf galaxies tend to form stars inefficiently. Yet, blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies are a subset of dwarf galaxies that have intense and concentrated star formation (compared to typical dwarf galaxies). BCDs are thought to require a large disturbance to trigger their burst of star formation. A common theory is that the enhanced star formation in a BCD is the result of an interaction with another galaxy or a dwarf-dwarf galaxy merger. However, many BCDs are relatively isolated from other galaxies, making an interaction or a merger a less likely starburst trigger.

As part of the atomic hydrogen dwarf galaxy survey, LITTLE THINGS*, Dr. Ashley has studied the gaseous properties of six BCDs.�Atomic hydrogen data allow us to explore the velocity fields and morphologies of the gas in BCDs, which may contain signatures of star formation triggers, such as gas consumption, a past merger, and interaction with previously undetected companions.�If BCDs have formed through gas consumption or dwarf-dwarf mergers, then they would be useful analogs for galaxy formation in the early universe. Also, learning which large disturbance has triggered the burst of star formation in BCDs could be useful for understanding and modeling how/whether BCDs evolve into/from other types of dwarf galaxies.

Speaker: Trisha Ashley, Bay Area Env Res Institute