The Herschel Virgo cluster survey: V. Star-forming dwarf galaxies - dust in metal-poor environments

TL;DR

This study investigates the dust properties of low-metallicity star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster using Herschel data, revealing their dust temperatures, masses, and ratios, and aiming to improve understanding of dust in metal-poor environments.

Contribution

First detailed analysis of dust properties in Virgo cluster dwarf galaxies with low metallicity using Herschel data, providing new insights into dust content in such environments.

Findings

Dust temperatures below 20 K

Dust masses around 10^5 solar masses

Dust-to-gas ratios between 10^-3 and 10^-2

Abstract

We present the dust properties of a small sample of Virgo cluster dwarf galaxies drawn from the science demonstration phase data set of the Herschel Virgo Cluster Survey. These galaxies have low metallicities (7.8 < 12 + log(O/H) < 8.3) and star-formation rates < 10^{-1} M_{sun}/yr. We measure the spectral energy distribution (SED) from 100 to 500 um and derive dust temperatures and dust masses. The SEDs are fitted by a cool component of temperature T < 20 K, implying dust masses around 10^{5} M_{sun} and dust-to-gas ratios D within the range 10^{-3}-10^{-2}. The completion of the full survey will yield a larger set of galaxies, which will provide more stringent constraints on the dust content of star-forming dwarf galaxies.