Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21330503s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #305.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.275
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Our neighbor, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), provides an opportunity to understand the life cycle of dust in an environment similar to that of galaxies early in the Universe. With a metallicity 1/10 solar and a distance of 60 kpc, we can study its interstellar medium in great detail. In this talk, I present results from the Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of the SMC (S4MC). This program used the InfraRed Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope to obtain spectral maps from 5-38 microns of dust emission from star-forming regions in the SMC. I present the results of two projects: (1) measuring newly-formed dust in the core-collapse supernova remnant 1E 0102.2-7219 and (2) understanding the physical state of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the SMC.
The efficiency of dust production in core-collapse supernovae (CCSN) is very uncertain. Observations of high-redshift quasars with large masses of dust in their vicinity suggest, based on the short timescales involved, that CCSN are important sources of dust. Observations of CCSN and their remnants have not provided evidence for this claim. Using the S4MC observations of 1E 0102.2-7219, we find 3x10^-3 solar masses of dust associated with the supernova ejecta. This mass is a lower limit to the amount of dust formed in the remnant, since the mid-IR observations are not sensitive to cold dust in the ejecta.
PAHs play important roles in the thermal balance and chemistry of the ISM, particularly in photodissociation regions. Observations with ISO and Spitzer have shown that PAH emission from low-metallicity galaxies is deficient. Using the S4MC observations, we present results on the distribution of PAH emission in the SMC and the variation of PAH band strengths with local physical conditions. Using the band ratios, we discuss the physical state of the PAHs, in particular their ionization fraction and size distribution.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (S4MC): Mid-Infrared Observations of Dust in a Low-Metallicity Environment does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (S4MC): Mid-Infrared Observations of Dust in a Low-Metallicity Environment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud (S4MC): Mid-Infrared Observations of Dust in a Low-Metallicity Environment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1696835