Constraining Star-Formation Driven Outflows in Local Dwarf Galaxies with <i>Herschel</i><xref rid="fn1-psf-2287691" ref-type="fn">†</xref>

Abstract

Galactic feedback (i.e., outflows) plays a fundamental role in regulating galaxy formation and evolution. We investigate the physical properties of galactic outflows in a sample of 29 local low-metallicity dwarf galaxies drawn from the Dwarf Galaxy Survey. We make use of Herschel/PACS archival data to detect outflows in the broad wings of observed [CII] 158 μm line profiles. We detect outflowing gas in 1/3 of the sample, and in the average galaxy population through line stacking. We find typical mass-loading factors (i.e., outflow efficiencies) of the order of unity. Outflow velocities are larger than the velocities required from gas to escape the gravitational potential of our targets, suggesting that a significant amount of gas and dust is brought out of their halos. Our results will be used as input for chemical models, posing new constraints on the processes of dust production/destruction in the interstellar medium of galaxies.

Keywords

• galaxies: dwarf
• galaxies: evolution
• galaxies: ISM
• galaxies: starburst
• ISM: jest and outflows