Physics
Scientific paper
Jun 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005sptz.prop20097w&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #20097
Physics
Scientific paper
Photodissociation regions (PDRS) include all regions of the interstellar medium in which far-ultraviolet photons play an important role in the chemistry or heating of the gas. These include HI clouds, the surfaces of molecular clouds illuminated by the interstellar radiation field, and molecular clouds illuminated by intense radiation from nearby massive stars. In general, models provide a good match to the observations, but several recent observations of H_2 and CO indicate that models underestimate the gas temperature. We propose to conduct IRS mapping observations of the warm H_2 in several PDRs. The high spatial resolution and sensitivity of Spitzer will allow us to test PDR models and determine if additional sources of heating are required. In addition we will determine the extent and source of the [Si II] and [Fe II] fine-structure lines. These diagnostic lines are especially important for extragalactic observations where beams typically include both neutral and ionized gas. It is essential to understand the thermal processes in PDRs in order to use PDR models in comparison with data, to derive physical parameters in the ISM of our Galaxy, as well as external galaxies.
Hollenbach David
Kaufman Michael
Wolfire Mark
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