| Issue |
EAS Publications Series
Volume 48, 2011
CRAL-2010 A Universe of Dwarf Galaxies
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 131 - 138 | |
| Section | ISM and Star Formation | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/1148029 | |
| Published online | 11 July 2011 | |
M. Koleva, Ph. Prugniel and I. Vauglin (eds)
EAS Publications Series, 48 (2011) 131–138
Gas and Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies
Astronomy Department, University of Minnesota, 116 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Resolved observations of nearby galaxies help us to understand the relationship between gas and star formation in dwarf galaxies. The star formation histories recovered from their fossil records place constraints on how much gas dwarf galaxies could have acquired at early times. Are dwarf galaxies able to accrete a significant amount of gas at later times, or is the bulk of the gas in place once the dwarf galaxy establishes its gravitational identity? In the current epoch, we have a wealth of observations which allow us to study the process of star formation. Spatially resolved, recent star formation histories allow us to ask fundamental questions such as: What conditions are required for star formation? What is the impact of the star formation on the structure of the ISM? Does star formation heat the ISM and consequently suppress future star formation, or does it compress the ISM and lead to more star formation? Does understanding star formation at z = 0 help us to understand star formation at higher redshifts?
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2011