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| Paper: |
Recent X-ray Observations of Disk Galaxies: Tracing the Dynamic Interstellar Medium |
| Volume: |
230, Galaxy Disks and Disk Galaxies |
| Page: |
393 |
| Authors: |
Wang, Q. D. |
| Abstract: |
I review recent results from our deep ROSAT and CHANDRA observations of two galaxies, M 101 and NGC 4631, in fields of exceptionally low Galactic extinction. Large amounts of X-ray-emitting gas are detected in these galaxies. Such gas is produced primarily in massive star forming regions and have an average characteristic temperature of a few times 106 K. Cooler gas (~106 K) is found typically outside galactic disks and may represent outflows from blown-out superbubbles. Propagation of star formation, driven by the expansion of hot gas, appears to be operating in giant HII complexes. A substantial fraction of photo-evaporated gas in such complexes may be mass-loaded into hot gas, which explains their large X-ray luminosities. These processes likely play an important role in determining the global properties of the interstellar medium, especially the disk/halo interaction. |
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