STRUCTURE AND FEEDBACK IN 30 DORADUS. I. OBSERVATIONS

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/191/1/160· OSTI ID:21454930

Pellegrini, E W ^[1]; Baldwin, J A ^[2]

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1. Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, 500 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States)
2. Physics and Astronomy Department, Michigan State University, 3270 Biomedical Physical Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States)

We have completed a new optical imaging and spectrophotometric survey of a 140 x 80 pc{sup 2} region of 30 Doradus centered on R136, covering key optical diagnostic emission lines including H{alpha}, H{beta}, H{gamma}, [O III] {lambda}{lambda}4363, 4959, 5007, [N II] {lambda}{lambda}6548, 6584, [S II] {lambda}{lambda}6717, 6731 [S III] {lambda}6312, and in some locations [S III] {lambda}9069. We present maps of fluxes and intensity ratios for these lines, and catalogs of isolated ionizing stars, elephant-trunk pillars, and edge-on ionization fronts. The final science-quality spectroscopic data products are available to the public. Our analysis of the new data finds that, while stellar winds and supernovae undoubtedly produce shocks and are responsible for shaping the nebula, there are no global spectral signatures to indicate that shocks are currently an important source of ionization. We conclude that the considerable region covered by our survey is well described by photoionization from the central cluster where the ionizing continuum is dominated by the most massive O stars. We show that if 30 Dor were viewed at a cosmological distance, its integrated light would be dominated by its extensive regions of lower surface brightness rather than by the bright, eye-catching arcs.

• OSTI ID: 21454930
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 191; ISSN 0067-0049; ISSN APJSA2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
BINARY STARS
BRIGHTNESS
CATALOGS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
IONIZATION
NEBULAE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS