Extended mid-infrared aromatic feature emission in M82

C. W Engelbracht; P Kundurthy; G Helou; L Armus; D Calzetti; M Meyer; G. J Bendo; F Walter; D Hollenbach; J. M Cannon; E. J Murphy; D. A Dale; K. D Gordon; B. A Buckalew; K Sheth; G. H Rieke; R. C Kennicutt; J.-D. T Smith; M. W Regan; D Makovoz; M Sosey; B. T Draine

doi:10.1086/504590

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Extended mid-infrared aromatic feature emission in M82

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Extended mid-infrared aromatic feature emission in M82

C. W Engelbracht, P Kundurthy, G Helou, L Armus, D Calzetti, M Meyer, G. J Bendo, F Walter, D Hollenbach, J. M Cannon, …

The Astrophysical journal, Vol.642(2), pp.L127-L132

05/10/2006

DOI: 10.1086/504590

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Abstract

We present new images (ground-based optical and mid-infrared [MIR] from the Spitzer Space Telescope) and spectra (from Spitzer) of the archetypal starburst galaxy M82. The Spitzer data show that the MIR emission extends at least 6 kpc along the minor axis of the galaxy. We use the optical and infrared data to demonstrate that the extended emission is dominated by emission from dust. The colors of the MIR emission and the spectra indicate that there is a strong component of aromatic feature emission (the MIR features commonly attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The dust continuum and aromatic feature emission are both strong in the well-known superwind region of this galaxy; clearly, the carrier of the aromatic features can survive in close proximity to the wind, far from the plane of the galaxy. We also see significant emission by dust well outside the superwind region, providing the clearest picture to date of the dust distribution in the halo of this galaxy.

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Title: Subtitle: Extended mid-infrared aromatic feature emission in M82
Creators: C. W Engelbracht - University of Arizona
P Kundurthy - University of Arizona
G Helou - California Institute of Technology
L Armus - California Institute of Technology
D Calzetti - Space Telescope Science Institute
M Meyer - Space Telescope Science Institute
G. J Bendo - Imperial College London
F Walter - Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
D Hollenbach - Ames Research Center
J. M Cannon - Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
E. J Murphy - Yale University
D. A Dale - University of Wyoming
K. D Gordon - University of Arizona
B. A Buckalew - California Institute of Technology
K Sheth - California Institute of Technology
G. H Rieke - University of Arizona
R. C Kennicutt - University of Arizona
J.-D. T Smith - University of Arizona
M. W Regan - Space Telescope Science Institute
D Makovoz - California Institute of Technology
M Sosey - Space Telescope Science Institute
B. T Draine - Princeton University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Astrophysical journal, Vol.642(2), pp.L127-L132
DOI: 10.1086/504590
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Date published: 05/10/2006
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984627345902771

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