Infrared Fabry-Perot Imaging of M82 [Fe II] Emission. II. Tracing Extragalactic Supernova Remnants
Abstract
We report high spatial and spectral resolution [Fe II] 1.644 km Fabry-Perot imaging observations of M82. We present extinction-corrected [Fe II] images and discuss the nature of compact [Fe II] emission regions revealed by these new data. We conclude that these [Fe II] sources trace a population of supernova remnants in M82 that are substantially older than those revealed previously on 6 cm radiographs. In addition, we find that M82 contains a distributed [Fe II] emission component that is extended along the southern minor axis and that accounts for 90% of the galaxy's [Fe II] luminosity. We interpret this extended emission as tracing disk material entrained in a super wind that has broken out of the galactic disk to the south. We find that the [Fe II]/Bry line ratio throughout M82 correlates with the age of the starburst as reflected by the color of the photospheric emission from the galaxy's stars. This correlation suggests that the [Fe II] emission regions in M82 are colocated with a post-main-sequence stellar population. The engineering details of our Fabry-Perot imaging methodology are also discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA464571
Entities
People
- C. E. Woodward
- D. M. Watson
- H. A. Smith
- J. L. Pipher
- John Fischer
- K. L. Thompson
- Matthew A. Greenhouse
- N. Raines
- R. J. Rudy
- Shobita Satyapal
- W. J. Forrest
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory