Paper detail

Interpreting the Low Frequency Radio Spectra of Starburst Galaxies: A Pudding of Strömgren Spheres

The low frequency radio emission of starburst galaxies is informative, but it can be absorbed in several ways. Most importantly, starburst galaxies are home to many H II regions, whose free-free absorption blocks low frequency radio waves. These H II regions are discrete objects, but most multiwavelength models of starbursts assume a uniform medium of ionized gas, if they include the absorption at all. I calculate the effective absorption coefficient of H II regions in starbursts, which is ultimately a cross section times the density of H II regions. The cross sections are calculated by assuming that H II regions are Strömgren spheres. The coefficient asymptotes to a constant value at low frequencies, because H II regions partially cover the starburst, and are buried part way into the starburst's synchrotron emitting material. Considering Strömgren spheres around either OB stars or Super Star Clusters, I demonstrate the method by fitting to the low frequency radio spectrum of M82. I discuss implications of the results for synchrotron spectrum shape, H II region pressure, and free-free emission as a star-formation rate indicator. However, these results are preliminary, and could be affected by systematics. I argue that there is no volume-filling warm ionized medium in starbursts, and that H II regions may be the most important absorption process down to ~10 MHz. Future data at low and high radio frequency will improve our knowledge of the ionized gas.