Ionizing stellar population in the disc of NGC 3310 - II. The Wolf-Rayet population

DOI: 
10.1093/mnras/stu2002
Publication date: 
21/12/2014
Main author: 
Miralles-Caballero D.
IAA authors: 
Pérez-Montero E.
Authors: 
Miralles-Caballero D., Rosales-Ortega F. F., Díaz A. I., Otí-Floranes H., Pérez-Montero E., Sánchez S. F.
Journal: 
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
445
Pages: 
3803-3822
Number: 
Abstract: 
We use integral field spectroscopy to study in detail the Wolf-Rayet (WR) population in NGC 3310, spatially resolving 18 star-forming knots with typical sizes of 200-300 pc in the disc of the galaxy hosting a substantial population of WRs. The detected emission in the so-called blue bump is attributed mainly to late-type nitrogen WRs (WNL), ranging from a few dozens to several hundreds of stars per region. Our estimated WNL/(WNL+O) ratio is comparable to reported empirical relations once the extinction-corrected emission is further corrected by the presence of dust grains inside the nebula that absorb a non-negligible fraction ofUVphotons. Comparisons of observables with stellar population models showdisagreement by factors larger than 2-3. However, if the effects of interacting binaries and/or photon leakage are taken into account, observations and predictions tend to converge. We estimate the binary fraction of the H II regions hostingWRs to be significant in order to recover the observed X-ray flux, hence proving that the binary channel can be critical when predicting observables. We also explore the connection of the environment with the current hypothesis that WRs can be progenitors to long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Galaxy interactions, which can trigger strong episodes of star formation in the central regions, may be a plausible environment where WRsmay act as progenitors of GRBs. Finally, even though the chemical abundance is generally homogeneous, we also find weak evidence for rapid N pollution byWR stellar winds at scales of ~200 pc. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Database: 
WOK
SCOPUS
ADS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2014MNRAS.445.3803M/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2014MNRAS.445.3803M
Keywords: 
Galaxies: clusters; Galaxies: Individual: NGC 3310; Galaxies: ISM- galaxies; Starburst -X-rays; Stars: Wolf-Rayet; Techniques: spectroscopic