Down-the-barrel and Transverse Observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud: Evidence for a Symmetric Galactic Wind on the Near and Far Sides of the Galaxy
Abstract
We compare the properties of gas flows on both the near and far side of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) disk using Hubble Space Telescope UV absorption-line observations toward an active galactic nucleus behind (transverse) and a star within (down-the-barrel) the LMC disk at an impact parameter of 3.2 {kpc}. We find that even in this relatively quiescent region gas flows away from the disk at speeds up to ∼ 100 {km} {{{s}}}-1 in broad and symmetrical absorption in the low and high ions. The symmetric absorption profiles combined with previous surveys showing little evidence that the ejected gas returns to the LMC and provide compelling evidence that the LMC drives a global, large-scale outflow across its disk, which is the likely result of a recent burst of star formation in the LMC. We find that the outflowing gas is multiphase, ionized by both photoionization (Si II and Si III) and collisional ionization (Si IV and C IV). We estimate a total mass and outflow rate to be ≳ {10}7 {M}⊙ and ≳ \quad 0.4 {M}⊙ {{yr}}-1. Since the velocity of this large-scale outflow does not reach the LMC escape velocity, the gas removal is likely aided by either ram-pressure stripping with the Milky Way (MW) halo or tidal interactions with the surrounding galaxies, implying that the environment of LMC-like or dwarf galaxies plays an important role in their ultimate gas starvation. Finally we reassess the mass and plausible origins of the high-velocity complex toward the LMC given its newly determined distance that places it in the lower MW halo and sky-coverage that shows it extends well beyond the LMC disk.
Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under NASA contract No. NAS5-26555.- Publication:
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The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 2016
- DOI:
- 10.3847/0004-637X/817/2/91
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1512.00461
- Bibcode:
- 2016ApJ...817...91B
- Keywords:
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- galaxies: dwarf;
- Galaxy: evolution;
- Galaxy: halo;
- ISM: individual objects: Large Magellanic Cloud;
- ISM: jets and outflows;
- Magellanic Clouds;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- Accepted to ApJ