A kinematic study of the irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 4861 using HI and Halpha observations

TL;DR

This study conducts a detailed kinematic analysis of the neutral and ionised gas in dwarf galaxy NGC 4861, revealing multiple outflows with velocities below escape velocity, thus unlikely to cause galactic winds.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive kinematic analysis combining HI and Halpha data to understand gas outflows and their potential impact on galaxy evolution.

Findings

Multiple outflows detected in NGC 4861.

Outflow velocities are below escape velocity.

Outflows likely do not lead to galactic winds.

Abstract

Context. Outflows powered by the injection of kinetic energy from massive stars can strongly affect the chemical evolution of galaxies, in particular of dwarf galaxies, as their lower gravitational potentials enhance the chance of a galactic wind. Aims. We therefore performed a detailed kinematic analysis of the neutral and ionised gas components in the nearby star-forming irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 4861. Similar to a recently published study of NGC 2366, we want to make predictions about the fate of the gas and to discuss some general issues about this galaxy. Methods. Fabry-Perot interferometric data centred on the Halpha line were obtained with the 1.93m telescope at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. They were complemented by HI synthesis data from the VLA. We performed a Gaussian decomposition of both the Halpha and the HI emission lines in order to search for multiple components indicating outflowing gas. The expansion velocities of the detected outflows were compared to the escape velocity of NGC 4861, which was modelled with a pseudo-isothermal halo. Results. Both in Halpha and HI the galaxy shows several outflows, three directly connected to the disc and probably forming the edges of a supergiant shell, and one at kpc-distance from the disc. We measured velocity offsets of 20 to 30 km/s, which are low in comparison to the escape velocity of the galaxy and therefore minimise the chance of a galactic wind.