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We present here the exploration of the physical properties of the sample of H  ii regions and aggregations of the last H  ii regions catalogue of the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey. This sample comprises the optical spectroscopic properties of more than ∼26 000 ionized regions corresponding to 924 galaxies from the Integral Field Spectroscopy data, including the flux intensity and equivalent widths and the properties of their underlying stellar population. In the current study, we derive a set of physical quantities for all these regions based on those properties, including (i) the fraction of young stars; (ii) the ionization strength (using six different estimations); (iii) the oxygen abundance (using 25 different calibrators); (iv) the nitrogen and nitrogen-to-oxygen abundance; (v) the dust extinction; and (vi) the electron density. Using this data set, we explore how the loci in the classical diagnostic diagrams are connected with those quantities, the radial distributions of these parameters, and the interrelations between themselves and with the properties of the underlying stellar populations. We conclude that many properties of the H  ii regions are tightly related to the galactic stellar evolution at the location where those regions are observed. Those properties are modulated only as a second-order effect by the properties of the ionizing stars and the ionized nebulae that do not depend on the astrophysical context in which they are formed. Our results highlight the importance of H  ii regions to explore the chemical evolution in galaxies, clarifying which of their properties can be used as proxies of that evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Star-forming galaxies with nebular He II emission contain very energetic ionizing sources of radiation, which can be considered as analogs to the major contributors of the reionization of the Universe in early epochs. It is therefore of great importance to provide a reliable absolute scale for the equivalent effective temperature (T*) for these sources. Methods. We study a sample of local (z <  0.2) star-forming galaxies showing optical nebular He II emission using the so-called softness diagrams, involving emission lines of two elements in two consecutive stages of ionization (e.g., [S II]/[S III] vs. [O II]/[O III]). We use for the first time the He I/He II ratio in these diagrams in order to explore the higher range of T* expected in these objects, and to investigate the role of possible mechanisms driving the distribution of galaxy points in these diagrams. We build grids of photoionization models covering different black-body temperatures, model cluster atmospheres, and density-bounded geometries to explain the conditions observed in the sample. Results. We verified that the use of the softness diagrams including the emission-line ratio He I/He II combined with black-body photoionization models can provide an absolute scale of T* for these objects. The application of a Bayesian-like code indicates T* in the range 50−80 kK for the sample of galaxies, with a mean value higher than 60 kK. The average of these high temperature values can only be reproduced using cluster model populations with nearly metal-free stars, although such ionizing sources cannot explain either the highest T* values, beyond 1σ, or the dispersion observed in the softness diagrams. According to our photoionization models, most sample galaxies could be affected to some extent by ionizing photon leaking, presenting a mean photon absorption fraction of 26% or higher depending on the metallicity assumed for the ionizing cluster. The entire range of He I/He II, [S II]/[S III], and [O II]/[O III] ratios for these HeII-emitting galaxies is reproduced with our models, combining nearly metal-free ionizing clusters and photon leaking under different density-bounded conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present integral field spectroscopy observations of two star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster (VCC 135 and VCC 324) obtained with Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrograph/PPak at the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope. We derive metallicity maps using the N2 empirical calibrator. The galaxies show positive gas metallicity gradients, contrarily to what is usually found in other dwarfs or spiral galaxies. We measure gradient slopes of 0.20 ± 0.06 and 0.15 ± 0.03 dex/ R e for VCC 135 and VCC 324, respectively. Such a trend has been only observed in few, very isolated galaxies or at higher redshifts (z > 1). It is thought to be associated with the accretion of metal-poor gas from the intergalactic medium, a mechanism that would be less likely to occur in a high-density environment like Virgo. We combine emission-line observations with deep optical images to investigate the origin of the peculiar metallicity gradient. The presence of weak underlying substructures in both galaxies and the analysis of morphological diagnostics and ionized gas kinematics suggest that the inflow of metal-poor gas to the central regions of the dwarfs may be related to a recent merging event with a gas-rich companion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new catalogue of H  ii regions based on the integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data of the extended CALIFA and PISCO samples. The selection of H  ii regions was based on two assumptions: a clumpy structure with high contrast of H α emission and an underlying stellar population comprising young stars. The catalogue provides the spectroscopic information of 26 408 individual regions corresponding to 924 galaxies, including the flux intensities and equivalent widths of 51 emission lines covering the wavelength range between 3745 and 7200 Å. To our knowledge, this is the largest catalogue of spectroscopic properties of H  ii regions. We explore a new approach to decontaminate the emission lines from diffuse ionized gas contribution. This diffuse gas correction was estimated to correct every emission line within the considered spectral range. With the catalogue of H  ii regions corrected, new demarcation lines are proposed for the classical diagnostic diagrams. Finally, we study the properties of the underlying stellar populations of the H  ii regions. It was found that there is a direct relationship between the ionization conditions on the nebulae and the properties of stellar populations besides the physicals condition on the ionized regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the mass-to-light vs. color relations (MLCRs) derived from the spatially resolved star formation history of a sample of 452 galaxies observed with integral field spectroscopy in the CALIFA survey. We derived the stellar mass (M⋆) and the stellar mass surface density (Σ⋆) from the combination of full spectral fitting (using different sets of stellar population models) with observed and synthetic colors in optical broad bands. This method allows obtaining the radial structure of the mass-to-light ratio (M/L) at several wavelengths and studying the spatially resolved MLCRs. Our sample covers a wide range of Hubble types from Sc to E, with stellar masses ranging from M⋆ ∼ 108.4 to 1012 M⊙. The scatter in the MLCRs was studied as a function of morphology, stellar extinction, and emission line contribution to the colors. The effects of the initial mass function (IMF) and stellar population models in the MLCRs were also explored. Our main results are that (a) the M/L ratio has a negative radial gradient that is steeper within the central 1 half-light-radius (HLR). It is steeper in Sb-Sbc than in early-type galaxies. (b) The MLCRs between M/L and optical colors were derived with a scatter of ∼0.1 dex. The smallest dispersion was found for the combinations (i, g − r) and (R, B − R). Extinction and emission line contributions do not affect the scatter of these relations. Morphology does not produce a significant effect, except if the general relation is used for galaxies redder than (u − i) > 4 or bluer than (u − i)< 0. (c) The IMF has a large effect on MLCRs, as expected. The change from a Chabrier to a Salpeter IMF produces a median shift of ∼0.29 dex when mass loss from stellar evolution is also taken into account. (d) These MLCRs are in agreement with previous results, in particular for relations with g and r bands and the B and V Johnson systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a kpc-scale analysis of the relationship between the molecular depletion time (τ mol dep ) and the orbital time (τ orb) across the field of 39 face-on local galaxies, selected from the EDGE-CALIFA sample. We find that, on average, 5 per cent of the available molecular gas is converted into stars per orbital time, or τ mol dep ~ 20 τorb. The resolved relation shows a scatter of ~0.5 dex. The scatter is ascribable to galaxies of different morphologies that follow different τ mol dep -τ orb relations which decrease in steepness from early- to late types. The morphologies appear to be linked with the star formation rate surface density, the molecular depletion time, and the orbital time, but they do not correlate with the molecular gas content of the galaxies in our sample.We speculate that in our molecular gas rich, early-type galaxies, the morphological quenching (in particular the disc stabilization via shear), rather than the absence of molecular gas, is the main factor responsible for their current inefficient star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey, a pioneer in integral field spectroscopy legacy projects, has fostered many studies exploring the information encoded on the spatially resolved data on gaseous and stellar features in the optical range of galaxies. We describe a value-added catalogue of stellar population properties for CALIFA galaxies analysed with the spectral synthesis code STARLIGHT and processed with the PYCASSO platform. Our public database (http://pycasso.ufsc.br/, mirror at http://pycasso.iaa.es/) comprises 445 galaxies from the CALIFA Data Release 3 with COMBO data. The catalogue provides maps for the stellar mass surface density, mean stellar ages and metallicities, stellar dust attenuation, star formation rates, and kinematics. Example applications both for individual galaxies and for statistical studies are presented to illustrate the power of this data set. We revisit and update a few of our own results on mass density radial profiles and on the local mass–metallicity relation. We also show how to employ the catalogue for new investigations, and show a pseudo Schmidt–Kennicutt relation entirely made with information extracted from the stellar continuum. Combinations to other databases are also illustrated. Among other results, we find a very good agreement between star formation rate surface densities derived from the stellar continuum and the Hα emission. This public catalogue joins the scientific community's effort towards transparency and reproducibility, and will be useful for researchers focusing on (or complementing their studies with) stellar properties of CALIFA galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatially resolved stellar population content of today’s galaxies holds important information for understanding the different processes that contribute to the star formation and mass assembly histories of galaxies. The aim of this paper is to characterize the radial structure of the star formation rate (SFR) in galaxies in the nearby Universe as represented by a uniquely rich and diverse data set drawn from the CALIFA survey. The sample under study contains 416 galaxies observed with integral field spectroscopy, covering a wide range of Hubble types and stellar masses ranging from M⋆ ~ 109 to 7 × 1011 M⊙. Spectral synthesis techniques are applied to the datacubes to derive 2D maps and radial profiles of the intensity of the star formation rate in the recent past (ΣSFR), as well as related properties, such as the local specific star formation rate (sSFR), defined as the ratio between ΣSFR and the stellar mass surface density (μ⋆). To emphasize the behavior of these properties for galaxies that are on and off the main sequence of star formation (MSSF), we stack the individual radial profiles in seven bins of galaxy morphology (E, S0, Sa, Sb, Sbc, Sc, and Sd), and several stellar masses. Our main results are: (a) the intensity of the star formation rate shows declining profiles that exhibit very small differences between spirals with values at R = 1 half light radius (HLR) within a factor two of ΣSFR ~ 20 M⊙Gyr-1pc-2. The dispersion in the ΣSFR(R) profiles is significantly smaller in late type spirals (Sbc, Sc, Sd). This confirms that the MSSF is a sequence of galaxies with nearly constant ΣSFR. (b) sSFR values scale with Hubble type and increase radially outward with a steeper slope in the inner 1 HLR. This behavior suggests that galaxies are quenched inside-out and that this process is faster in the central, bulge-dominated part than in the disks. (c) As a whole and at all radii, E and S0 are off the MSSF with SFR much smaller than spirals of the same mass. (d) Applying the volume corrections for the CALIFA sample, we obtain a density of star formation in the local Universe of ρSFR = (0.0105 ± 0.0008) M⊙yr-1Mpc-3, in agreement with independent estimates. Most of the star formation is occurring in the disks of spirals. (e) The volume-averaged birthrate parameter, which measures the current SFR with respect to its lifetime average, b′ = 0.39 ± 0.03, suggests that the present day Universe is forming stars a about one-third of its past average rate. E, S0, and the bulge of early type spirals (Sa, Sb) contribute little to the recent SFRof the Universe, which is dominated by the disks of Sbc, Sc, and Sd spirals. (f) There is a tight relation between ΣSFR and μ⋆, defining a local MSSF relation with a logarithmic slope of 0.8, similar to the global MSSF relation between SFR and M⋆. This suggests that local processes are important in determining the star formation in disks, probably through a density dependence of the SFR law. The scatter in the local MSSF is driven by morphology-related offsets, with ΣSFR/μ⋆ (the local sSFR) increasing from early to late type galaxies, indicating that the shut down of the star formation is more related to global processes, such as the formation of a spheroidal component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. H II regions in galaxies are the sites of star formation, so they are special places for understanding the build-up of stellar mass in the universe. The line ratios of this ionized gas are frequently used to characterize the ionization conditions. In particular, the oxygen abundances are assumed to trace the chemical enrichment of galaxies. Aims. We explore the connections between the ionization conditions and the properties of the overall underlying stellar population (ionizing or not-ionizing) in H II regions, in order to uncover the actual physical connection between them. Methods. We use the H II regions catalog from the CALIFA survey, which is the largest in existence with more than 5000 H II regions, to explore their distribution across the classical [O III] λ5007/Hβ vs. [N II] λ6583/Hα diagnostic diagram, and the way it depends on the oxygen abundance, ionization parameter, electron density, and dust attenuation. The location of H II regions within this diagram is compared with predictions from photoionization models. Finally, we explore the dependence of the location within the diagnostic diagram on the properties of the host galaxies, the galactocentric distances, and the properties of the underlying stellar population. Results. The H II regions with weaker ionization strengths and more metal-rich are located in the bottom righthand area of the diagram. In contrast, those regions with stronger ionization strengths and more metal poor are located in the upper lefthand end of the diagram. Photoionization models per se do not predict these correlations between the parameters and the line ratios. The H II regions located in earlier-type galaxies, closer to the center and formed in older and more metal-rich regions of the galaxies are located in the bottom-right area of the diagram. On the other hand, those regions located in late-type galaxies in the outer regions of the disks and formed on younger and more metal-poor regions lie in the top lefthand area of the diagram. The two explored line ratios show strong correlations with the age and metallicity of the underlying stellar population. Conclusions. These results indicate that although H II regions are short-lived events, they are affected by the total underlying stellar population. One may say that H II regions keep a memory of the stellar evolution and chemical enrichment that have left an imprint on both the ionizing stellar population and the ionized gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Ionized gas kinematics provide important clues to the dynamical structure of galaxies and hold constraints to the processes driving their evolution. Aims. The motivation of this work is to provide an overall characterization of the kinematic behavior of the ionized gas of the galaxies included in the Calar Alto Legacy Integral field Area (CALIFA), offering kinematic clues to potential users of the CALIFA survey for including kinematical criteria in their selection of targets for specific studies. From the first 200 galaxies observed by CALIFA survey in its two configurations, we present the two-dimensional kinematic view of the 177 galaxies satisfaying a gas content/detection threshold. Methods. After removing the stellar contribution, we used the cross-correlation technique to obtain the radial velocity of the dominant gaseous component for each spectrum in the CALIFA data cubes for different emission lines (namely, [O ii] λλ3726, 3729, [OIII] λλ4959, 5007, Hα+[N II] λλ6548, 6584, and [SII]λλ6716, 6730). The main kinematic parameters measured on the plane of the sky were directly derived from the radial velocities with no assumptions on the internal prevailing motions. Evidence of the presence of several gaseous components with different kinematics were detected by using [OIII] λλ4959, 5007 emission line profiles. Results. At the velocity resolution of CALIFA, most objects in the sample show regular velocity fields, although the ionized-gas kinematics are rarely consistent with simple coplanar circular motions. Thirty-five percent of the objects present evidence of a displacement between the photometric and kinematic centers larger than the original spaxel radii. Only 17% of the objects in the sample exhibit kinematic lopsidedness when comparing receding and approaching sides of the velocity fields, but most of them are interacting galaxies exhibiting nuclear activity (AGN or LINER). Early-type (E+S0) galaxies in the sample present clear photometric-kinematic misaligments. There is evidence of asymmetries in the emission line profiles in 117 out of the 177 analyzed galaxies, suggesting the presence of kinematically distinct gaseous components located at different distances from the optical nucleus. The kinematic decoupling between the dominant and secondary component/s suggested by the observed asymmetries in the profiles can be characterized by a limited set of parameters. Conclusions. This work constitutes the first determination of the ionized gas kinematics of the galaxies observed in the CALIFA survey. The derived velocity fields, the reported kinematic distortions/peculiarities and the identification of the presence of several gaseous components in different regions of the objects might be used as additional criteria for selecting galaxies for specific studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the largest and most homogeneous catalog of Hii regions and associations compiled so far. The catalog comprises more than 7000 ionized regions, extracted from 306 galaxies observed by the CALIFA survey. We describe the procedures used to detect, select, and analyze the spectroscopic properties of these ionized regions. In the current study we focus on characterizing of the radial gradient of the oxygen abundance in the ionized gas, based on the study of the deprojected distribution of Hii regions. We found that all galaxies without clear evidence of an interaction present a common gradient in the oxygen abundance, with a characteristic slope of αO/H = -0.1 dex/re between 0.3 and 2 disk effective radii (re), and a scatter compatible with random fluctuations around this value, when the gradient is normalized to the disk effective radius. The slope is independent of morphology, the incidence of bars, absolute magnitude, or mass. Only those galaxies with evidence of interactions and/or clear merging systems present a significantly shallower gradient, consistent with previous results. The majority of the 94 galaxies with Hii regions detected beyond two disk effective radii present a flattening in the oxygen abundance. The flattening is statistically significant. We cannot provide a conclusive answer regarding the origin of this flattening. However, our results indicate that its origin is most probably related to the secular evolution of galaxies. Finally, we find a drop/truncation of the oxygen abundance in the inner regions for 26 of the galaxies. All of them are non-interacting, mostly unbarred Sb/Sbc galaxies. This feature is associated with a central star-forming ring, which suggests that both features are produced by radial gas flows induced by resonance processes. Our result suggests that galaxy disks grow inside-out, with metal enrichment driven by the local star formation history and with a small variation galaxy-by-galaxy. At a certain galactocentric distance, the oxygen abundance seems to be correlated well with the stellar mass density and total stellar mass of the galaxies, independently of other properties of the galaxies. Other processes, such as radial mixing and inflows/outflows seem to have a limited effect on shaping of the radial distribution of oxygen abundances, although they are not ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present a detailed auto-consistent study of the nearest blue compact dwarf galaxy NGC 6789 by means of optical and ultraviolet (UV) archive photometry data and optical long-slit Intermediate dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System-William Herschel Telescope (WHT) spectroscopy observations of the five brightest star-forming knots. The analysis of the spectra in all knots allowed the derivation of ionic chemical abundances of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, argon and neon using measures of both the high- and low-excitation electron temperatures, leading to the conclusion that NGC 6789 is chemically homogeneous with low values of the abundance of oxygen in the range 12+log(O/H) = 7.80-7.93, but presenting at the same time higher values of the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio than expected for its metal regime. We used archival Hubble Space Telescope/Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 ( HST/WFPC2) F555 W and F814 W observations of NGC 6789 to perform a photometric study of the colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of the resolved stellar populations and derive its star formation history (SFH), which is compatible with the presence of different young and old stellar populations whose metallicities do not necessarily increase with age. We fit the observed optical spectrum in all the five knots using the starlight code and a combination of single stellar populations following the SFH obtained from the CMD. We compare the resulting stellar masses and the relative fractions of the ionizing populations with a non-constrained SFH case. The properties of the younger populations were obtained using cloudy photoionization models, giving similar ages in all the knots in the range 3-6 Myr and the estimation of the dust absorption factor, which correlates with the observed GALEX far-ultraviolet-near-ultraviolet colour indices. The total photometric extinction and dust-absorption corrected Hα fluxes were finally used to derive the star formation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]