Ionization of He II in star-forming galaxies by X-rays from cluster winds and superbubbles

The nature of the sources powering nebular He II emission in star-forming galaxies remains debated, and various types of objects have been considered, including Wolf-Rayet stars, X-ray binaries, and Population III stars. Modern X-ray observations show the ubiquitous presence of hot gas filling star-forming galaxies. We use a collisional ionization plasma code to compute the specific He II ionizing flux produced by hot gas and show that if its temperature is not too high (less than or similar to 2.5 MK), then the observed levels of soft diffuse X-ray radiation could explain He II ionization in galaxies. To gain a physical understanding of this result, we propose a model that combines the hydrodynamics of cluster winds and hot superbubbles with observed populations of young massive clusters in galaxies. We find that in low-metallicity galaxies, the temperature of hot gas is lower and the production rate of He II ionizing photons is higher compared to high-metallicity galaxies. The reason is that the slower stellar winds of massive stars in lower-metallicity galaxies input less mechanical energy in the ambient medium. Furthermore, we show that ensembles of star clusters up to similar to 10-20 Myr old in galaxies can produce enough soft X-rays to induce nebular He II emission. We discuss observations of the template low-metallicity galaxy I Zw 18 and suggest that the He II nebula in this galaxy is powered by a hot superbubble. Finally, appreciating the complex nature of stellar feedback, we suggest that soft X-rays from hot superbubbles are among the dominant sources of He II ionizing flux in low-metallicity star-forming galaxies.

Automated summary

This study investigates the sources powering nebular He II emission in star-forming galaxies, and finds that soft X-ray radiation produced by hot gas can explain He II ionization. The temperature of hot gas is lower and the production rate of He II ionizing photons is higher in low-metallicity galaxies compared to high-metallicity galaxies. Ensembles of star clusters up to 10-20 million years old in galaxies can generate enough soft X-rays to induce nebular He II emission. Observations of the low-metallicity galaxy I Zw 18 suggest that its He II nebula is powered by a hot superbubble. Soft X-rays from hot superbubbles are among the dominant sources of He II ionizing flux in low-metallicity star-forming galaxies.