Star Formation in the Magellanic Clouds: New Insights fromHerschelHERITAGE

2011 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
M. Meixner ◽  
M. Sewiło ◽  
F. Galliano ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Magellanic Clouds

scholarly journals An overview of the structure and kinematics of the Magellanic Clouds

1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Westerlund
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Observational Data ◽  
Spiral Structure ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Small Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Complex Velocity ◽  
The Past

A vast amount of observational data concerning the structure and kinematics of the Magellanic Clouds is now available. Many basic quantities (e.g. distances and geometry) are, however, not yet sufficiently well determined. Interactions between the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and our Galaxy have dominated the evolution of the Clouds, causing bursts of star formation which, together with stochastic self-propagating star formation, produced the observed structures. In the youngest generation in the LMC it is seen as an intricate pattern imitating a fragmented spiral structure. In the SMC much of the fragmentation is along the line of sight complicating the reconstruction of its history. The violent events in the past are also recognizable in complex velocity patterns which make the analysis of the kinematics of the Clouds difficult.

scholarly journals ISO Observations of Compact HII Regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 377-378
Author(s):  
A. Moneti ◽  
R. J. Laureijs ◽  
J.M. van der Hulst ◽  
F. Israel ◽  
P.P. van der Werf
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Hii Regions ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
First Results ◽  
Reflection Nebulae ◽  
Compact Hii Regions

With the detection of strong PAH features and H2 emission in selected knots of the N159, N11A, and 30 Dor regions in the LMC, we present the first results of a study that is part of a coordinated Guaranteed Time ISO programme to investigate star formation in the Magellanic Clouds. The PAH features have different ratios than the ones in Galactic reflection nebulae.

scholarly journals How to Model the Chemical Evolution of Galaxies

1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 557-566
Author(s):  
Joachim Köppen
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Formation Time ◽  
List Type ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
H Ii Region ◽  
Magellanic Stream

For a first interpretation of the comparison of observational data, the crude “Simple Model” of chemical evolution is quite useful. Since it has well been described in the literature (e.g. Pagel and Patchett 1975, Tinsley 1980), let us here just review the assumptions and whether they are satisfied: 1.The galaxy is a closed system, with no exchange of matter with its surroundings: For the solar neighbourhood this probably is not true (the infamous Gdwarf-“problem”, Pagel 1989b). For the Magellanic Clouds this is most certainly wrong, because of the presence of the Inter-Cloud Region and the Magellanic Stream, and evidence for interaction with each other and the Galaxy as well (cf. e.g. Westerlund 1990).2.It initially consists entirely of gas (without loss of generality of primordial composition): This is good approximation also for models with gas infall, as long as the infall occurs with a time scale shorter than the star formation time scale.3.The metal production of the average stellar generation (the yield y) is constant with time: Initially, it is reasonable to make this assumption. For tables of the oxygen yield see Koppen and Arimoto (1991).4.The metal rich gas ejected by the stars is completely mixed with the ambient gas. To neglect the finite stellar life times (“instantaneous recycling approximation”) is appropriate for elements synthesized in stars whose life time is much shorter than the star formation time scale, such as oxygen, neon, sulphur, and argon.5.The gas is well mixed at all times: We don't know. The dispersion of H II region abundances may give an indication. In the Magellanic Clouds Dufour (1984) finds quite a low value (±0.08 dex for oyxgen).

scholarly journals Recent Star Formation History of the Magellanic Clouds

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 470-472
Author(s):  
Eva K. Grebel ◽  
Wolfgang Brandner
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Age ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Formation History ◽  
History Of

A new age calibration of Cepheids and supergiants is used to study the large-scale recent star formation history of the LMC and the SMC. We find evidence for migration of star formation along the LMC bar as well as for the existence of long-lived (≈ 200 Myr) extended star-forming features.

scholarly journals HII regions and star formation in the Magellanic Clouds

1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Kennicutt
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Massive Star ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Hii Regions ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
H Ii Regions ◽  
Distant Galaxies ◽  
Close Range ◽  
Mass Functions

The H II regions in the Magellanic Clouds provide an opportunity to characterize the global star formation properties of a galaxy at close range. They also provide a unique laboratory for testing empirical tracers of the massive star formation rates and initial mass functions in more distant galaxies, and for studying the dynamical interactions between massive stars and the interstellar medium. This paper discusses several current studies in these areas.

scholarly journals Michigan 160: a precursor to the LMC?

1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 376-377
Author(s):  
L. Staveley-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Formation Processes ◽  
Stellar Formation ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Magellanic Stream

The tidal interaction between the Magellanic Clouds and the Galaxy is an important factor in influencing the physical and dynamical evolution of the Clouds (e.g. the Magellanic Stream) as well as the genesis and evolution of their respective stellar populations. However, how important is the influence of the Galaxy? This is a key question since we know that relatively isolated, magellanic-type galaxies do exist (e.g. NGC 3109 and NGC 4449) and have been just as efficient at star-formation as the LMC. It is possible in fact that the star formation in the clouds is primarily stochastic in nature and is relatively insensitive to the global forces which seem to have shaped stellar formation processes in massive spiral and elliptical galaxies. Unsupported by a massive bulge or halo component, cold gas disks are inherently susceptible to radial and bar-like instabilities (Efstathiou et al. 1982) which are very efficient at creating the dynamical pressures required for rapid star-formation. With this in mind, a detailed comparison of 'field' magellanic-type galaxies with the LMC and SMC is of some importance.

scholarly journals The star formation process in the Magellanic Clouds

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S256) ◽  
pp. 191-202
Author(s):  
J. M. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Critical Density ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Initial Mass Function ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Bridge Span ◽  
Individual Star ◽  
Low Metallicity

AbstractThe Magellanic Clouds offer unique opportunities to study star formation both on the global scales of an interacting system of gas-rich galaxies, as well as on the scales of individual star-forming clouds. The interstellar media of the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds and their connecting bridge, span a range in (low) metallicities and gas density. This allows us to study star formation near the critical density and gain an understanding of how tidal dwarfs might form; the low metallicity of the SMC in particular is typical of galaxies during the early phases of their assembly, and studies of star formation in the SMC provide a stepping stone to understand star formation at high redshift where these processes can not be directly observed. In this review, I introduce the different environments encountered in the Magellanic System and compare these with the Schmidt-Kennicutt law and the predicted efficiencies of various chemo-physical processes. I then concentrate on three aspects that are of particular importance: the chemistry of the embedded stages of star formation, the Initial Mass Function, and feedback effects from massive stars and its ability to trigger further star formation.

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