AAS 198th Meeting, June 2001
Session 81. Dwarf, Irregular, and Starburst Galaxies
Oral, Thursday, June 7, 2001, 10:00-11:30am, C105

[Previous] | [Session 81] | [Next]


[81.01] The Extremely Low Metallicity Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy SBS~0335-02: Paradigm of a Young Galaxy?

D.A. Dale, G. Helou, G. Neugebauer, B.T. Soifer, D.T. Frayer (Caltech), J.J. Condon (NRAO)

New infrared, millimeter, and radio observations from Keck, Palomar, ISO, OVRO, and the VLA of the low metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxy SBS~0335-052 are presented. This young star-forming system is compact (~80 pc) at 12.5~\mum, yet relatively extended in Br\gamma line emission. CO emission is not detected, though the galaxy shows an extremely high global HI gas to dust mass ratio, high even for blue compact dwarfs. The galaxy's far-infrared to radio and far-infrared to optical flux ratios match that for normal star-forming galaxies, yet its mid-infrared to optical/near-infrared luminosity is quite high. The combination of its mid-infrared surface brightness and dust column density imply an intense interstellar radiation field. Finally, the large Br\gamma equivalent width is indicative of a ~5 Myr starburst. These new lines of evidence will be used to discuss the merits of using SBS~0335-052 as a local analog to young galaxies at high redshift.


[Previous] | [Session 81] | [Next]