Theoretical Modeling of Star-Forming Galaxies I. Emission Line Diagnostic Grids for Local and Low-Metallicity Galaxies

Understand

We use the newest generation of the Starburst99/Mappings code to generate an extensive suite of models to facilitate detailed studies of star-forming galaxies and their ISM properties, particularly at low metallicities.

• The new models used include a rigorous treatment of metal opacities in the population synthesis modeling and more detailed dust physics in the photoionization code.
• These models span a wide range of physical parameters including metallicity, ionization parameter, and the adoption of both a instantaneous burst and continuous star formation history.
• We examine the agreement between our models and local (z < 0.1) star-forming galaxy populations from several large datasets, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Nearby Field Galaxy Survey, and samples of blue compact galaxies and metal-poor galaxies.