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Star clusters and young populations in the dwarf irregular galaxy Leo A

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2019

Rima Stonkutė ,
Marius Čeponis ,
Alina Leščinskaitė  and
Vladas Vansevičius
Rima Stonkutė
Affiliation:
Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekis av. 3, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania email: rima.stonkute@ftmc.lt Astronomical Observatory of Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionis st. 29, 03100 Vilnius, Lithuania email: vladas.vansevicius@ff.vu.lt
Marius Čeponis
Affiliation:
Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekis av. 3, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania email: rima.stonkute@ftmc.lt
Alina Leščinskaitė
Affiliation:
Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekis av. 3, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania email: rima.stonkute@ftmc.lt
Vladas Vansevičius
Affiliation:
Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekis av. 3, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania email: rima.stonkute@ftmc.lt Astronomical Observatory of Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionis st. 29, 03100 Vilnius, Lithuania email: vladas.vansevicius@ff.vu.lt
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Abstract

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We have studied young stellar populations and star clusters in the dwarf irregular galaxy Leo A using multicolor (B, V, R, I, Hα) photometry data obtained with the Subaru Suprime-Cam and two-color photometry results measured on archival HST/ACS F475W & F814W frames. The analysis of the main sequence (MS) and blue supergiant (BSG – “blue loop”) stars enabled us to study the star formation history in the Leo A galaxy during the last ~200 Myr. Also, we have discovered 5 low-mass (≲ 400 M⊙) star clusters within the ACS field. This finding, taking into account a low metallicity environment and a yet-undetected molecular gas in Leo A, constrains star formation efficiency estimates and scenarios. Inside the well known “hole” in the H i column density map (Hunter et al. 2012) we found a shock front (prominent in Hα), implying an unseen progenitor and reminding the “hole” problems widely discussed by Warren et al. (2011).

Keywords

galaxies: dwarfgalaxies: individual Leo Agalaxies: star clusters

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