The effects of star formation on the low-metallicity ISM: NGC 4214 mapped with Herschel /PACS spectroscopy

Abstract

We present Herschel/PACS spectroscopic maps of the dwarf galaxy NC4214 observed in 6 far infrared fine-structure lines: [C ii] 158 μm, [O iii] 88 μm, [O i] 63 μm, [O i] 146 μm, [N ii] 122 μm, and [N ii] 205 μm. The maps are sampled to the full telescope spatial resolution and reveal unprecedented detail on ∼ 150 pc size scales. We detect [C ii] emission over the whole mapped area, [O iii] being the most luminous FIR line. The ratio of [O iii]/[C ii] peaks at about 2 toward the sites of massive star formation, higher than ratios seen in dusty starburst galaxies. The [C ii]/CO ratios are 20 000 to 70 000 toward the 2 massive clusters, which are at least an order of magnitude larger than spiral or dusty starbursts, and cannot be reconciled with single-slab PDR models. Toward the 2 massive star-forming regions, we find that L[CII] is 0.5 to 0.8% of the LTIR. All of the lines together contribute up to 2% of LTIR. These extreme findings are a consequence of the lower metallicity and young, massive-star formation commonly found in dwarf galaxies. These conditions promote large-scale photodissociation into the molecular reservoir, which is evident in the FIR line ratios. This illustrates the necessity to move to multiphase models applicable to star-forming clusters or galaxies as a whole. © 2010 ESO.