Neutral Gas Dynamics of the Extreme Star-Forming Dwarf Galaxy Leo P

Authors

Elijah Bernstein-Cooper, Macalester College

Document Type

Honors Project On-Campus Access Only

Abstract

We present Very Large Array and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope HI observations of Leo P, a low-mass star-forming dwarf galaxy discovered by the ALFALFA survey. This low-mass (M_HI = 9.5 × 10⁵ Solar masses) system has a nebular oxygen abundance of 3% Solar, making it among the most metal-deficient galaxies and a benchmark for models of galaxy evolution. Leo P’s proximity (d = 1.75 Mpc) allows our HI imaging to probe spatial scales of 160 pc at 1.8 kms⁻¹ velocity resolution. We present morphological and dynamical analysis that offers one of the most complete views of the interstellar medium in an extremely lowmass dwarf galaxy to date.

Recommended Citation

Bernstein-Cooper, Elijah, "Neutral Gas Dynamics of the Extreme Star-Forming Dwarf Galaxy Leo P" (2013). Physics and Astronomy Honors Projects. 16.
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/physics_honors/16