2002 Lowell Observatory Workshop

The Outer Edges of Dwarf Irregular Galaxies:

Stars and Gas

A Workshop held

2002 October 10 - 11

at

Lowell Observatory
Flagstaff, Arizona

On-line Proceedings	Abstract Submission	Important Dates
Scientific Program	Travel and Lodging

We have in recent years come to view dwarf galaxy evolution in the broader context of the cosmic evolution of large-scale structure. Dwarf galaxies, as the putative building blocks of hierarchical galaxy formation, and also as the most numerous galaxies in the Universe, play a central role in cosmic evolution. In particular, the interplay of galactic and intergalactic material around dwarf irregulars must be more extensive than in more massive disk galaxies because of their lower gravitational potential and lower interstellar pressures. The outer regions of dwarf irregular galaxies therefore yield vital clues to the dominant processes in this interaction zone.
This workshop aims to address the following fundamental questions:

What role does the outer region play in the evolution of the galaxy, including star formation, chemical evolution, and gas consumption?

What are the properties of stars and gas in the outer regions of dwarf galaxies? What are their distributions and velocity dispersions? What is the porosity of the ISM and molecular gas content? What are the star formation histories of the outer stellar disk?

How do these properties vary with galactic parameters, such as mass, surface brightness, metallicity, and current star formation?

What signatures of gas outflow and accretion are apparent, and what is their role in dwarf galaxy and cosmic evolution?

What is known about the dark matter content in the outer regions, and how does it affect the galactic properties?

How does the intergalactic cluster or group environment affect the outer parts of dwarf galaxies?

What are the external HI clouds seen in the outer parts of some irregulars? Are they primordial gas disks still settling into equilibrium, the tail end of the galactic HI luminosity function, or something else altogether?

What are the parallels between the outer disks of large spiral galaxies and the outer regions of irregulars?

Organizing committee:

	Deidre Hunter and Sally Oey

	Lowell Observatory 
	1400 W. Mars Hill Rd.
	Flagstaff AZ 86001
	Telephone: +1-928-774-3358

For more information, contact lowell02@lowell.edu.

Proceedings

There will be no hardcopy proceedings. A conference summary will be published in PASP. In addition, we will publish on-line any submissions in a suitable format, e.g., Powerpoint presentations, Postscript or PDF files, scanned transparencies, links to preprints, etc.

Important Dates

February 01:	Registration opens
August 01:	Abstract Submission Deadline and Registration deadline for Excursions
September 01:	Registration Deadline
October 09:	Reception and registration in Lowell Observatory Rotunda, 5:30-7:30 PM
October 10 - 11:	Workshop sessions, Lowell Observatory, Giclas Lecture Hall
October 10:	Workshop Dinner and Clark Telescope observing, Lowell Observatory
October 11:	Workshop end
October 12:	Tours to the Grand Canyon and Anderson Mesa

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Image of NGC 1569 from Hunter et al. (2000, AJ, 120, 2383)