Abstract

We have completed a new optical imaging and spectrophotometric survey of a 140 × 80 pc2 region of 30 Doradus centered on R136, covering key optical diagnostic emission lines including Hα, Hβ, Hγ, [O III] λλ4363, 4959, 5007, [N II] λλ6548, 6584, [SII] λλ6717, 6731 [S III] λ6312, and in some locations [S III] λ9069. We present maps of fluxes and intensity ratios for these lines, and catalogs of isolated ionizing stars, elephant-trunk pillars, and edge-on ionization fronts. The final science-quality spectroscopic data products are available to the public. Our analysis of the new data finds that, while stellar winds and supernovae undoubtedly produce shocks and are responsible for shaping the nebula, there are no global spectral signatures to indicate that shocks are currently an important source of ionization. We conclude that the considerable region covered by our survey is well described by photoionization from the central cluster where the ionizing continuum is dominated by the most massive O stars. We show that if 30 Dor were viewed at a cosmological distance, its integrated light would be dominated by its extensive regions of lower surface brightness rather than by the bright, eye-catching arcs.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2010

Notes/Citation Information

Published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, v. 191, no. 1, p. 160-178.

© 2010. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

The copyright holder has granted permission for posting the article here.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/191/1/160

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