Keck spectroscopy and Spitzer Space Telescope analysis of the outer disk of the Triangulum Spiral Galaxy M33

TL;DR

This study combines Keck spectroscopy and Spitzer imaging to analyze the outer disk of M33, confirming the presence of carbon stars and linking their distribution to recent star formation fueled by gas accretion from the HI-warp.

Contribution

It provides spectroscopic confirmation of carbon stars in M33's outer disk and relates their presence to spiral structure and recent star formation activity.

Findings

Carbon stars confirmed via Keck spectroscopy.

Outer spiral arms linked to recent star formation.

Spitzer IR data shows spiral phase change at HI warp.

Abstract

In an earlier study of the spiral galaxy M33, we photometrically identified arcs or outer spiral arms of intermediate age (0.6 Gyr - 2 Gyr) carbon stars precisely at the commencement of the HI-warp. Stars in the arcs were unresolved, but were likely thermally-pulsing asymptotic giant branch carbon stars. Here we present Keck I spectroscopy of seven intrinsically bright and red target stars in the outer, northern arc in M33. The target stars have estimated visual magnitudes as faint as V \sim 25 mag. Absorption bands of CN are seen in all seven spectra reported here, confirming their carbon star status. In addition, we present Keck II spectra of a small area 0.5 degree away from the centre of M33; the target stars there are also identified as carbon stars. We also study the non-stellar PAH dust morphology of M33 secured using IRAC on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Spitzer 8 micron image attests to a change of spiral phase at the start of the HI warp. The Keck spectra confirm that carbon stars may safely be identified on the basis of their red J-K_s colours in the outer, low metallicity disk of M33. We propose that the enhanced number of carbon stars in the outer arms are an indicator of recent star formation, fueled by gas accretion from the HI-warp reservoir.