Triggering and Feedback: The Relation between the HI Gas and the Starburst in the Dwarf Galaxy NGC 1569

Abstract

As part of our study on the impact of violent star formation on the interstellar medium (ISM) of dwarf galaxies, we report observations of neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) in the post-starburst dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. High-resolution measurements with the VLA (B-, C- and D-array) are aimed at identifying morphological and kinematical signatures in the HI caused by the starburst. Our kinematical data suggest a huge hole in the HI distribution, probably due to the large number of supernovae explosions in the center of the galaxy over the past 20 Myr. Investigating the large-scale HI structure, we confirm the existence of a possible HI companion and a so-called HI bridge east of NGC 1569. Furthermore, we report the detection of additional low-intensity HI halo emission, which leads us to suggest a revised halo structure. Based on the new picture, we discuss the origin of the halo gas and possible implications for the evolution of the starburst in NGC 1569.