2017/09/15 by Helen Meskhidze, Chris T. Richardson
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Atlas (anatomy) #Emission spectrum #Equivalent width #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Hydrogen line #Ionization #Metallicity #Photoionization #Spectral line #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10509-017-3178-9
published as Astrophys. Space Sci. 363: 200 (2017) · 33 pages; 8 figures; 1 table; accepted to Astrophys. Space Sci
arxiv created 2017/09/15 · openalex created_date 2017/09/25 · openalex publication_date 2017/10/03 · arxiv updated 2017/10/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present an atlas of starburst galaxy emission lines spanning 10 orders of magnitude in ionizing flux and 7 orders of magnitude in hydrogen number density. Coupling SEDs from Starburst99 with photoionization calculations from Cloudy, we track 96 emission lines from 977 Å to 205 m which are common to nebular regions, have been observed in H II regions, and serve as useful diagnostic lines. Each simulation grid displays equivalent widths and contains ~1.5x104 photoionization models calculated by supplying a spectral energy distribution, chemical abundances, dust content, and gas metallicity (ranging from 0.2 Z\odot to 5.0 Z\odot). Our simulations will prove useful in starburst emission line data analysis, especially regarding local starburst galaxies that show high ionization emission lines. One sample application of our atlas predicts that C IV λ1549 will serve as a useful diagnostic emission line of vigorous star formation for coming James Webb Space Telescope observations predicting a peak equivalent width of approximately 316 Å.