N-band (10.8 μm) imaging of the blue compact starburst galaxy He 2-10 reveals the presence of four emission regions, which have no optical or near-IR counterparts. These sources correspond to the ‘ultradense H ii’ regions recently identified in 2cm and 6cm radio maps of this galaxy. We have used the N-band data to place constraints on the properties of the stellar clusters, that are deeply embedded within these dust-emitting regions.

We present the initial results of a medium resolution, 0.8 to 4.2 μm spectroscopic survey of M, L, and T dwarfs. We have identified the most prominent molecular and atomic absorption features found in the spectra of these late-type dwarfs. We have also compared the spectra to a laboratory FeH emission spectrum and identified nearly 100 features common to the FeH spectrum and the dwarf spectra from 0.99 to 1.8 μm.

As part of an ongoing program to better understand the early stages of massive star cluster evolution and the physical conditions required for their formation, we have obtained 10 μm (N-band) images with Gemini North of the nuclear region of the starburst galaxy He 2-10. Five massive star clusters still enshrouded in their natal cocoons with no optical counterparts were previously discovered by Kobulnicky & Johnson (1999) as optically thick thermal radio sources. Three of these five radio sources have strong 10 μm detections in only 10 minutes of integration time with Gemini. The blackbody temperatures of the dust cocoons are estimated to range from ∼ 40 — 150 K at their outer and inner edges, and the mass of these dust shells is ∼ 107 M⊙. The ages of the embedded stellar clusters must be < 106 years. The bolometric luminosities of the exciting clusters can be constrained to ∼ 108–9 L⊙, and the implied masses are > 106 M⊙. These three embedded clusters are responsible for at least 60% of the IRAS flux of the entire galaxy He 2-10.

Using the latest stellar evolution models, theoretical stellar spectra, and a compilation of observed emission line strengths from Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, we have constructed evolutionary synthesis models for young starbursts (Schaerer & Vacca 1997; see also Schaerer 1996). We provide detailed predictions of UV and optical emission line strengths for both the WR stellar lines and the major nebular hydrogen and helium emission lines, as a function of several input parameters related to the starburst episode.

Wolf-Rayet (W-R) galaxies are a subset of emission-line galaxies in whose integrated spectra a broad (i.e., stellar in origin) He II λ 4686 emission feature has been detected. This line is a prominent emission feature in the spectra of WN stars. The presence of 102 to 105 W-R stars in these galaxies has been inferred from a comparison of the luminosity and equivalent width of this feature in the integrated galaxy spectra with those of the corresponding line in the spectra of Galactic and LMC WN stars. Most W-R galaxies exhibit other properties indicative of a very young starburst population, such as a relatively “blue” continuum and a strong nebular emission line spectrum due to photoionization by large numbers of hot, early-type stars. Their spectra are therefore very similar to to those of giant H II regions. There are currently about 40 W-R galaxies known.

Recent observations of Wolf-Rayet stars by Massey (1984) and Torres-Dodgen and Massey (1988) have yielded high quality, absolutely calibrated spectra of nearly all known Wolf- Rayet objects. These observations also indicate that discontinuities, or “jumps”, are present in the continuum spectra of some Wolf-Rayet stars. Such continuum jumps are predicted by the current theoretical models of Wolf-Rayet atmospheres. In general, these models provide good fits to the observed spectra of Wolf-Rayet stars. The models also indicate that, between jumps, the intrinsic continuum can be closely approximated by a power law in wavelength. In this case, we have the following relation between the intrinsic colors: where and Z3645 is the strength of the He II (η = 4) jump at 3645 Å in mags. This relation holds because the central wavelength of the u filter (λu = 3650 Å) is nearly coincident with that of the He II jump. In addition, models of WN stars with helium-dominated atmospheres predict a correlation between D3645 and (6 - v)o: