A Mid-Infrared Survey of the Warm ISM and Star Formation in Molecular Gas-Rich Radio Galaxies

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We propose Spitzer observations to assess the properties of the warm ISM and star formation in a complete sample of 15 CO-detected, local radio galaxies. Eight of these galaxies were detected in CO as part of a millimeter-wave survey of a complete IRAS flux-limited sample of 33 low-redshift (z <~ 0.1) radio galaxies, and are observed to have morphologies consistent with major/minor galaxy mergers or interactions and extended (7-14" = 2-8 kpc) CO disks. In addition, 7 of the radio galaxies were detected in a recent volume-limited (z < 0.05) CO survey. The CO luminosities of these galaxies translate into 0.4-7x10^9 M_sun of cold molecular gas (H_2). Spitzer low and high-resolution IRS will detect warm H_2 emission, broad PAH emission, and high ionization lines, enabling (i) a determination of whether the warm-to-cold H_2 ratio correlates with AGN (e.g., high ionization lines) or starburst (strong PAH) activity, (ii) a measurement of the grain size and ionization state of PAH, and (iii) a measure of the relative contribution of nuclear PAH emission to the mid-IR nuclear emission. Spitzer IRAC observations will be used to measure the luminosity and extent of PAH, and will be compared with the CO maps to determine if PAH traces star formation. Finally, MIPS observations will be combined with IRS/IRAC and 2MASS data, and multi-component dust models will be fit to the continuum emission so that the temperature and mass of the dust component(s), and thus the H_2-to-dust mass ratios, can be calculated. Data from this proposal will be compared with archival and GTO data of nearby IR galaxies, starbursts and other gas-rich systems in order to assess the relationship of gas-rich radio galaxies with other types of "active" galaxies. The IR and CO brightness of the galaxies, and the spatial extent of molecular disks mapped thus far, makes this the best suited sample for assessing the properties of the warm ISM and star formation in luminous AGN with Spitzer.

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