Galaxy Mass and the Fate of the ISM in Candidate Proto-Spheroidals at z~0.2-0.4

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Hst Proposal Id #8678 Stellar Populations

Scientific paper

We propose to obtain STIS long-slit spectra for a sample of 5 faint blue compact galaxies {BCGs} at z 0.2 to 0.4. Despite being very luminous {M_B -20}, BCGs have velocity widths Sigma < 60 kms, and half-light radii r_e < 0.5'' {or R_e < 3Kpc}. The small sizes and velocity widths suggest that BCGs are low-mass stellar systems {Mla10^10M_odot}, while their very blue colors, strong emission lines and low M/L-ratios indicate that they are undergoing a major starburst. If the star-forming process halts after the current burst, galaxy evolution models predict that BCGs will fade by 3-4 magnitudes after a few Gyrs to reach the low luminosities and surface brightnesses characteristic of spheroidal galaxies. Thus we may be witnessing, in-situ, the last major episode of star formation in today's dwarf, low surface brightness galaxies such as NGC 205. Spatially-resolved spectroscopy will allow us to perform unique tests of this evolutionary scenario by providing: i} measurements of rotational velocities -rather than Sigma- to determine whether BCGs are indeed low-mass stellar systems; and ii} evidence for any substructure in the line emitting region associated to SN- driven galactic winds. This information will shed light on the ultimate fate of the ISM in BCGs, and thus on whether it is reasonable to expect that no further star formation episodes will occur after the current burst.

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