Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Observations of the Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy Markarian 59

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Galaxies: Abundances, Galaxies: Dwarf, Galaxies: Individual (Markarian 59), Galaxies: Ism, Galaxies: Starburst, Ultraviolet: Galaxies

Scientific paper

New Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) far-UV spectroscopy of the nearby metal-deficient (Zsolar/8) cometary blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy Markarian (Mrk) 59 is discussed. The data are used to investigate element abundances in its interstellar medium. The H I absorption lines are characterized by narrow cores that are interstellar in origin and by broad wings that are stellar in origin. The mean interstellar H I column density is ~7×1020 cm-2 in Mrk 59. No H2 lines are seen and N(H2) is <~1015 cm-2 at the 10 σ level. The lack of diffuse H2 is due to the combined effect of a strong UV radiation field that destroys the H2 molecules and a low metallicity that leads to a scarcity of dust grains necessary for H2 formation. P Cygni profiles of the S VI λλ933.4, 944.5 and O VI λλ1031.9, 1037.6 lines are seen, indicating the presence of very hot O stars and a stellar wind terminal velocity of ~1000 km s-1. By fitting the line profiles with multiple components having each a velocity dispersion b=7 km s-1 and spanning a radial velocity range of 100 km s-1, some of which can be saturated, we derive heavy element abundances in the neutral gas. We find logN(O I)/N(H I)=-5.0+/-0.3 or [O I/H I]=-1.5 for the neutral gas, about a factor of 10 below the oxygen abundance of the supergiant H II region, implying self-enrichment of the latter. Based on observations made with the NASA-CNES-CSA Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. FUSE is operated for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University under NASA contract NAS 5-32985.

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