A Search for Correlations between Turbulence and Star Formation in LITTLE THINGS Dwarf Irregular Galaxies

Turbulence has the potential for creating gas density enhancements that initiate cloud and star formation (SF), it can be generated locally by SF. To study connection between turbulence SF, we looked relationships SF traced FUV images, kinetic energy (KED) velocity dispersion ($v_{disp}$) in LITTLE THINGS sample of nearby dIrr galaxies. We performed 2D cross-correlations KED measured annuli to produce correlation coefficients as a function radius, determined cumulative distribution cross value. also plotted on pixel-by-pixel basis excess KED, $v_{disp}$, HI mass surface density, $\Sigma_{\rm HI}$, from respective values with radial profiles subtracted, versus rate SFR}$, all regions positive SFR}$. found SFR}$ are poorly correlated. The associated implies $\sim0.5$% efficiency supernova pump local scale resolution here, which is factor $\sim2$ too small galactic scale. $v_{disp}$ small, only $\sim0.37$ km s$^{-1}$. HI}$ corresponding an consistent consumption time $\sim1.6$ Gyr inner parts similarity this timescale CO CO-dark molecular comparable disks.