IFU investigation of possible Lyman continuum escape from Mrk 71/NGC 2366

Context. Mrk 71/NGC 2366 is the closest green pea (GP) analog and candidate Lyman Continuum (LyC) emitter. Recently, 11 LyC-leaking GPs have been detected through direct observations of the ionizing continuum, making this the most abundant class of confirmed LyC-emitters at any redshift. High resolution, multiwavelength studies of GPs can lead to an understanding of the method(s), through which LyC escapes from these galaxies.
Aims: The proximity of Mrk 71/NCG 2366 offers unprecedented detail on the inner workings of a GP analog, and enables us to identify the mechanisms of LyC escape.
Methods: We used 5825-7650 Å integral field unit PMAS observations to study the kinematics and physical conditions in Mrk 71. An electron density map was obtained from the [S II] ratio. A fortuitous second order contamination by the [O II] λ3727 doublet enabled the construction of an electron temperature map. Resolved maps of sound speed, thermal broadening, "true" velocity dispersion, and Mach number were obtained and compared to the high resolution magnetohydrodynamic SImulating the LifeCycle of molecular Clouds (SILCC) simulations.
Results: Two regions of increased velocity dispersion indicative of outflows are detected to the north and south of the super star cluster, knot B, with redshifted and blueshifted velocities, respectively. We confirm the presence of a faint broad kinematical component, which is seemingly decoupled from the outflow regions, and is fainter and narrower than previously reported in the literature. Within uncertainties, the low- and high-ionization gasses move together. Outside of the core of Mrk 71, an increase in Mach numbers is detected, implying a decrease in gas density. Simulations suggest this drop in density can be as high as ∼4 dex, down to almost optically thin levels, which would imply a nonzero LyC escape fraction along the outflows even when assuming all of the detected H I gas is located in front of Mrk 71 in the line of sight.
Conclusions: Our results strongly indicate that kinematical feedback is an important ingredient for LyC leakage in GPs.

Based on observations collected at the Centro Astronómico Hispanico en Andalucía (CAHA) at Calar Alto, operated jointly by the Andalusian Universities and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC).