Probing the Super Star Cluster Environment of NGC 1569 Using FISICA

TL;DR

This study uses near-infrared integral field spectroscopy with FISICA to investigate the star-forming environment around super star clusters in NGC 1569, revealing embedded clusters through specific emission lines.

Contribution

First application of FISICA for probing star-forming regions in NGC 1569, demonstrating its effectiveness in detecting embedded clusters via near-IR spectroscopy.

Findings

Detection of [He I] emission coincident with CO clouds indicating embedded clusters.

Identification of dense star-forming regions around super star clusters.

Confirmation of embedded star clusters in NGC 1569 through spectral evidence.

Abstract

We present near-IR JH spectra of the central regions of the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 1569 using the Florida Image Slicer for Infrared Cosmology and Astrophysics (FISICA). The dust-penetrating properties and available spectral features of the near-IR, combined with the integral field unit (IFU) capability to take spectra of a field, make FISICA an ideal tool for this work. We use the prominent [He I] (1.083\mu m) and Pa\beta (1.282 \mu m) lines to probe the dense star forming regions as well as characterize the general star forming environment around the super star clusters (SSCs) in NGC 1569. We find [He I] coincident with CO clouds to the north and west of the SSCs, which provides the first, conclusive evidence for embedded star clusters here.