The Distribution of Star Formation in Interacting Dwarf Galaxies

ORAL

Abstract

We present H$\alpha$ imaging of the interacting dwarf galaxies from the TiNy Titans (TNT) survey, providing an unparalleled view of the ongoing star formation in the first systematic study of these systems. Galaxy interactions are of fundamental importance to the evolution of massive galaxies - they impact morphology, star formation rates (SFRs), and interstellar medium composition. Although the majority of mergers at all redshifts are expected to occur between low mass galaxies, little is known about the extent of these effects in their shallow gravitational potentials. Early TNT results include the finding that fiber-based H$\alpha$ fluxes suggest an enhancement in the SFRs of paired versus unpaired dwarf galaxies, and that this enhancement may be more significant than in their more massive counterparts. To develop a more comprehensive view of the star formation in these interacting dwarf galaxies, we have obtained H$\alpha$ observations with the 8.1m Gemini North Telescope. These compelling images reveal the clumpy morphology and asymmetric distribution of the ongoing star formation in the TNT sample. We present a quantitative analysis of this morphology and discuss the impact of the clustered star formation on these low mass dwarf galaxies and their environments.

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Authors

  • Sandra Liss

    Univ of Virginia

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO

  • Jonathan Tan

    Duquesne University, Baker Hughes, Hampton University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Texas Christian University, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Austin Peay State University, Virginia Military Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, Washington University, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan, Univ of Kentucky, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Univ of Virginia, James Madison University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, High Point University, Department of Chemistry, High Point University, Department of Physics, James Madison University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, Institute of Renewable Energy and Environment Technology, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK, Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy, Ames, IA, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universite de Rennes, Jan Dlugosz University, Translume, NSCL/FRIB, Duke University, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, University of St. Andrews, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Florida, Yale University, None, Georgia College & State Univ, Georgia College & State University, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Univ of Tennessee Space Inst, The University of Virginia, Chiang Mai University, DHA Suffa University, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Istanbul University, Georgia College and State University, University of Houston, Western Kentucky Univ, James Madison University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Trent University, Univ of Arizona, Ohio State University, NRAO, University of Virginia/NRAO