Star formation in active dwarf galaxies

Abstract

Star formation and the ISM in active dwarf galaxies are studied based on data from the IRAS Point Source Catalog. The dwarf galaxies that show evidence of recent energetic star formation are generally also strong far-infrared emitters; thus, active current star formation is associated with a history of energetic star formation. A fraction of the galaxies considered here have a star formation rate that is significantly greater than the average rate in the recent past. Available gas is being consumed as efficiently in the presently active dwarfs as in the Milky Way. A primary difference between galaxies that are energetically forming stars and those that are not is the difference in gas mass, as well as the efficiency of star formation. The most important process may be the assembly of large amounts of gaseous material.