The Massive Stellar Population in the Diffuse Ionized Gas of M33
Abstract
We compare Far-UV, H-alpha, and optical broadband images of the nearby spiral galaxy M33, to investigate the massive stars associated with the diffuse ionized gas. The H-alpha/FUV ratio is higher in HII regions than in the DIG, possibly indicating that an older population ionizes the DIG. The broad-band colors support this conclusion. The HII region population is consistent with a young burst, while the DIG colors resemble an older population with constant star formation. Our results indicate that there may be enough massive field stars to ionize the DIG, without the need for photon leakage from HII regions.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9707288,
title = {The Massive Stellar Population in the Diffuse Ionized Gas of M33},
author = {Charles G. Hoopes and Rene A. M. Walterbos},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9707288},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
5 pages, LaTex, 6 figures. Uses aipproc.sty and aipproc.cls. To appear in the conference proceedings of "The UV Universe at Low and High Redshift: Probing the Progress of Galaxy Evolution," eds. W. H. Waller, M. N. Fanelli, and A. C. Danks (New York:AIP)