LWS spectroscopy of the luminous blue compact galaxy Haro 11

DOI: 
Publication date: 
01/07/2000
Main author: 
Bergvall N.
IAA authors: 
Masegosa J.
Authors: 
Bergvall N., Masegosa J., Östlin G., Cernicharo J.
Journal: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
359
Pages: 
41-50
Number: 
Abstract: 
We present the results of far infrared (FIR) spectroscopy of the luminous blue compact galaxy (BCG) Haro 11 (ESO 350-IG38) obtained with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) in low resolution mode. This metal poor dwarf merger is an extremely hot IRAS source. We discuss the balance between dust and line cooling in the photodissociated regions (PDR), in particular the role of the [CII]λ158μ line, and derive the basic properties of the PDR gas and estimates of the gas and dust masses. The mass of the PDRs, 2-1+2 108 M⊙, is comparable to that of the ionized gas and exceeds the observed upper limit of the HI mass. The gas/dust mass ratio is low, indicating that the galaxy contains little cold dust. The low metallicity, the intense radiation field and the low column density of Haro 11 results in an extremely high [CII]/CO flux ratio and probably also a very high M(H2)/LCO conversion factor. Therefore CO is a poor indicator of the H2 mass in starburst dwarf galaxies. After a reanalysis we confirm the claimed correlation (Malhotra et al. 1997) between the [CII]158 μ/FIR flux ratio and the IRAS f60/f100 dust temperature and reduce the scatter. We find that Haro 11 deviates from the relationship being brighter in [CII] than what would be expected, if the mechanism proposed by Malhotra et al. is dominant. As an alternative (or complementary) explanation we propose that the [CII] 158 μ/MR versus f60/f100 relationship is caused by an increasing optical depth with increasing IRAS temperature. The low metallicity of Haro 11 and its extreme starburst properties probably allows the medium to be thin despite its high f60/f100 ratio. This leaves room for a more optimistic view on the possibilities to detect massive starforming mergers at high redshifts, using the [CII] line.
Database: 
WOK
SCOPUS
Keywords: 
Galaxies: Compact; Galaxies: evolution; Galaxies: Individual: ESO 350-Ig38; Galaxies: Individual: Haro 11 -galaxies: starburst; Infrared: galaxies