SN explosions-galaxies evolution connection: from pc to kpc scales

 

Claudio Melioli (IAG/USP)

 

Energization of the interstellar medium by supernova explosions covers a crucial role in a number of astrophysical situations. Supernova explosions are important for the gas evolution on small scales, because they drive turbulence and are able to provide a self-regulation mechanism for star formation. Besides, their blast waves may also form molecular clouds by sweeping gas into a turbulent flow. The gas heated by supernova explosions may also acquire an expansion velocity larger than the escape velocity and leave the galaxy through a supersonic wind. The interplay between supernova explosions, stellar winds and interstellar medium is therefore important also for the gas evolution at large scales, playing important role on the dynamical and chemical evolution of different galactic sistems, like dwarf, spiral and starburst galaxies and affecting their metalicities, the surface brightness, the total gas mass evolution and the star formation rate itself. In this study we will review these mechanisms, we will show 3D (M-)HD simulations of SN-driven turbulence in star formation regions (at small scales) and SN-driven galactic outflows (at large scales) and we will test the impact of gas flows on the metal abundance evolution of the galaxies. Depending on the environmental conditions, our main conclusion is that stellar feedback may be able to drive - or to stop - new star formation processes, but is unable to distribute metals throughout the gas disk.