New Wolf-Rayet Galaxies with Detection of WC Stars

Abstract

We report the discovery of two new Wolf-Rayet (WR) galaxies: Mrk~1039, and F08208$+$2816. Two broad WR bumps at 5808Ã ~ and 4650Ã ~ indicate the presence of WCE and WNL star population in all two sources. We also confirm the presenceof WR features in Mrk~35, previously detected in a different position. The observed equivalent width of the WR bump at 4650Ã ~ and the derived number ratios of WR/(WR$+$O) imply that star formation in these sources takes place inshort burst duration. Comparisons with the recent models of WR populations in young starbursts with the observed EW(\HeII)/EW(\CIV)/EW(WRbump) and their relative intensitie provide an indication that the stellar initial mass function in some WR galaxies might not be Salpeter-like. It is interesting to find that the luminous IRAS source, F08208$+$2816, has little dust reddening, probably because of the existence of a powerful superwind. By comparisons with other starbursts observed with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, F08208$+$2816 as a merging system renders a chance to study the contribution from young starbursts to the UV background radiation in universe.

22 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal