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We present a new technique for overcoming confusion noise in deep far-infrared Herschel space telescope images making use of prior information from shorter λ < 2 µm wavelengths. For the deepest images obtained by Herschel, the flux limit due to source confusion is about a factor of three brighter than the flux limit due to instrumental noise and (smooth) sky background. We have investigated the possibility of de-confusing simulated Herschel PACS 160 xm images by using strong Bayesian priors on the positions and weak priors on the flux of sources. We find the blended sources and group them together and simultaneously fit their fluxes. We derive the posterior probability distribution function of fluxes subject to these priors through Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) sampling by fitting the image. Assuming we can predict the FIR flux of sources based on the ultraviolet-optical part of their SEDs to within an order of magnitude, the simulations show that we can obtain reliable fluxes and uncertainties at least a factor of three fainter than the confusion noise limit of 3σc = 2.7 mJy in our simulated PACS-160 image. This technique could in principle be used to mitigate the effects of source confusion in any situation where one has prior information of positions and plausible fluxes of blended sources. For Herschel, application of this technique will improve our ability to constrain the dust content in normal galaxies at high redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply the Finkbeiner et al. two-component thermal dust emission model to the Planck High Frequency Instrument maps. This parameterization of the far-infrared dust spectrum as the sum of two modified blackbodies (MBBs) serves as an important alternative to the commonly adopted single-MBB dust emission model. Analyzing the joint Planck/DIRBE dust spectrum, we show that two-component models provide a better fit to the 100-3000 GHz emission than do single-MBB models, though by a lesser margin than found by Finkbeiner et al. based on FIRAS and DIRBE. We also derive full-sky 6'1 resolution maps of dust optical depth and temperature by fitting the two-component model to Planck 217-857 GHz along with DIRBE/IRAS 100 µm data. Because our two-component model matches the dust spectrum near its peak, accounts for the spectrum's flattening at millimeter wavelengths, and specifies dust temperature at 6'1 FWHM, our model provides reliable, high-resolution thermal dust emission foreground predictions from 100 to 3000 GHz. We find that, in diffuse sky regions, our two-component 100-217 GHz predictions are on average accurate to within 2.2%, while extrapolating the Planck Collaboration et al. single-MBB model systematically underpredicts emission by 18.8% at 100 GHz, 12.6% at 143 GHz, and 7.9% at 217 GHz. We calibrate our two-component optical depth to reddening, and compare with reddening estimates based on stellar spectra. We find the dominant systematic problems in our temperature/reddening maps to be zodiacal light on large angular scales and the cosmic infrared background anisotropy on small angular scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the wavelength dependence of interstellar extinction from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near- and midinfrared (IR) has been studied extensively. Although it is well established that the UV/optical extinction law varies significantly among the different lines of sight, it is not clear how IR extinction varies among various environments. In this work, using the color-excess method and taking red giants as the extinction tracer, we determine interstellar extinction Aλ in the four Spitzer/IRAC bands in [3.6], [4.5], [5.8], [8.0]μm (relative to AKs , extinction in the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) Ks band at 2.16μm) of the Coalsack nebula, a nearby starless dark cloud, based on the data obtained from the 2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE surveys. We select five individual regions across the nebula that span a wide variety of physical conditions ranging from diffuse and translucent to dense environments, as traced by the visual extinction, the Spitzer/MIPS 24μm emission, and CO emission. We find that Aλ/AKs , mid-IR extinction relative to AKs , decreases from diffuse to dense environments, which may be explained in terms of ineffective dust growth in dense regions. The mean extinction (relative to AKs ) is calculated for the four IRAC bands as well and exhibits a flat mid-IR extinction law consistent with previous determinations for other regions. Extinction in the IRAC 4.5μm band is anomalously high, much higher than that of the other three IRAC bands, and cannot be explained in terms of CO and CO2 ice. Mid-IR extinction in the four IRAC bands has also been derived for four representative regions in the Coalsack Globule 2, which respectively exhibit strong ice absorption, moderate or weak ice absorption, and very weak or no ice absorption. The derived mid-IR extinction curves are all flat, with Aλ/AKs increasing with the decrease of the 3.1μm H2O ice absorption optical depth τice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use mid-infrared Spitzer spectroscopy and far-infrared Herschel photometry for a sample of 20 main sequence O9-B2 stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with strong 24μm excesses to investigate the origin of the mid-IR emission. Either debris disks around the stars or illuminated patches of dense interstellar medium (ISM) can cause such mid-IR emission. In a companion paper, Paper I, we use optical spectroscopy to show that it is unlikely for any of these sources to be classical Be stars or Herbig Ae/Be stars. We focus our analysis on debris disks and cirrus hot spots. The local, prototype objects for these models are the debris disk around Vega and the heated dust cloud surrounding the stars in the Pleiades, also known as a cirrus hot spot. These two cases predict different dust masses, radii, origins, and structures, but the cleanest classification tools are lost by the poor physical resolution at the distance of the SMC. We also consider transition disks, which would have observable properties similar to debris disks. We begin classification by measuring angular extent in the highest resolution mid-IR images available. We find 3 out of 20 stars to be significantly extended, establishing them as cirrus hot spots. We then fit the IR spectral energy distributions to determine dust temperatures and masses. Analysis yields minimum grain sizes, thermal equilibrium distances, and the resultant dust mass estimates. We find the dust masses in the SMC stars to be larger than for any known debris disks. The difference in inferred properties is driven by the SMC stars being hotter and more luminous than known debris disk hosts and not in any directly observed dust properties, so this evidence against the debris disk hypothesis is circumstantial. Finally, we created a local comparison sample of bright mid-IR OB stars in the MilkyWay (MW) by cross-matching the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Hipparcos catalogs. We find that of the thousands of nearby (⩽1 kpc) hot stars in the MW that show a mid-IR excess, only a small fraction (few percent) match the high mid-IR luminosities of the SMC stars. All such local stars in the appropriate luminosity range that can be unambiguously classified are young stars with optical emission lines or are spatially resolved by WISE with sizes too large to be plausible debris disk candidates. We conclude that the very strong mid-IR flux excesses are most likely explained as cirrus hot spots, although we cannot rigorously rule out that a small fraction of the sample is made up of debris disks or transition disks. We present suggestive evidence that bow-shock heating around runaway stars may be a contributing mechanism to the interstellar emission. These sources, interpreted as cirrus hot spots, offer a new localized probe of diffuse interstellar dust in a low metallicity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of a "super-damped" Lyα absorber at zabs = 2.2068 toward quasi-stellar object (QSO) Q1135-0010 in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and follow-up Very Large Telescope (VLT) UVES spectroscopy. A Voigt profile fit to the damped Lyα (DLA) line indicates log NH I = 22.05±0.1. This is the second QSO DLA discovered to date with such high NH I. We derive element abundances [Si/H] = -1.10±0.10, [Zn/H] = -1.06±0.10, [Cr/H] = -1.55±0.10, [Ni/H] = -1.60±0.10, [Fe/H] = -1.76±0.10, [Ti/H] = -1.69±0.11, [P/H] = -0.93±0.23, and [Cu/H] = -0.75±0.14. Our data indicate detection of Lyα emission in the DLA trough, implying a star formation rate (SFR) of ~10 M⊙ yr-1 in the absence of dust attenuation. C II* λ1336 absorption is also detected, suggesting SFR surface density -2 < log ...* < 0 M⊙ yr-1 kpc-2. We estimate electron density in the range 3.5 x 10-4 to 24.7 cm-3 from C II*/C II and ~0.5-0.9 cm-3 from Si II*/Si II. Overall, this is a robustly star-forming, moderately enriched absorber, but with relatively low dust depletion. Fitting of the SDSS spectrum yields low reddening for Milky Way, Large Magellanic Cloud, or Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) extinction curves. No CO absorption is detected, and C I absorption is weak. The low dust and molecular content, reminiscent of some SMC sight lines, may result from the lower metallicity and a stronger radiation field (due to higher SFR). Finally, we compare this absorber with other QSO and gamma-ray burst DLAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report optical and mid-infrared photometry of SN 1980K between 2004 and 2010, which shows slow monotonic fading consistent with previous spectroscopic and photometric observations made 8-17 yr after outburst. The slow rate of change over two decades suggests that this evolution may result from scattered and thermal light echoes off of extended circumstellar material. We present a semi-analytic dust radiative-transfer model that uses an empirically corrected effective optical depth to provide a fast and robust alternative to full Monte Carlo radiative-transfer modeling for homogenous dust at low to intermediate optical depths. We find that unresolved echoes from a thin circumstellar shell 14-15 lt-yr from the progenitor, and containing ≾0.02 M⊙ of carbon-rich dust, can explain the broadband spectral and temporal evolution. The size, mass, and dust composition are in good agreement with the contact discontinuity observed in scattered echoes around SN 1987A. The origin of slowly changing high-velocity [O I] and Hα lines is also considered. We propose an origin in shocked high-velocity metal-rich clumps of ejecta, rather than arising in the impact of ejecta on slowly moving circumstellar material, as is the case with hot spots in SN 1987A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the observational studies of supernova (SN) explosions are limited to early phases (100 yr) in our Galaxy or very nearby galaxies. SNe at the epoch between these two, which we call the "transitional" phase, have not been explored in detail except for several extragalactic SNe including SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We present theoretical predictions for the infrared (IR) dust emissions by several mechanisms; emission from dust formed in the SN ejecta, light echo by circumstellar (CS) and interstellar (IS) dust, and emission from shocked CS dust. We search for IR emission from six core-collapse SNe at the transitional phase in the nearby galaxies NGC 1313, NGC 6946, and M101 by using the data taken with the AKARI satellite and Spitzer. Among six targets, we detect the emission from SN 1978K in NGC 1313. SN 1978K is associated with 1.3 x 10-3 M⊙ of silicate dust. We show that, among several mechanisms, the shocked CS dust is the most probable emission source to explain the IR emission observed for SN 1978K. IR emission from the other five objects is not detected. Our current observations are sensitive to IR luminosity of >1038 erg s-1, and the non-detection of SN 1962M excludes the existence of the shocked CS dust for a high gas mass-loss rate of ~10-4 M⊙ yr-1. Observations of SNe at the transitional phase with future IR satellites will fill the gap of IR observations of SNe with the age of 10-100 yr, and give a new opportunity to study the CS and IS environments of the progenitor, and possibly dust formation in SNe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1969 Edward Conklin measured the anisotropy in celestial emission at 8 GHz with a resolution of 16°.2 and used the data to report a detection of the cosmic microwave background dipole. Given the paucity of 8 GHz observations over large angular scales and the clear evidence for non-power-law Galactic emission near 8 GHz, a new analysis of Conklin's data is informative. In this paper, we compare Conklin's data to that from Haslam et al. (0.4 GHz), Reich and Reich (1.4 GHz), and the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP; 23-94 GHz). We show that the spectral index between Conklin's data and the 23 GHz WMAP data is β = -1.7±0.1, where we model the emission temperature as T ∝ vβ . Free--free emission has β ≈ -2.15 and synchrotron emission has β ≈ -2.7 to -3. Thermal dust emission (β ≈1.7) is negligible at 8 GHz. We conclude that there must be another distinct non-power-law component of diffuse foreground emission that emits near 10 GHz, consistent with other observations in this frequency range. By comparing to the full complement of data sets, we show that a model with an anomalous emission component, assumed to be spinning dust, is preferred over a model without spinning dust at 5σ (Δχ2 = 31). However, the source of the new component cannot be determined uniquely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and photometry of four Type Ia supernovae (SNe 2004dt, 2004ef, 2005M, and 2005cf) obtained with the UV prism of the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. This data set provides unique spectral time series down to 2000Å. Significant diversity is seen in the near-maximum-light spectra (~2000-3500Å) for this small sample. The corresponding photometric data, together with archival data from Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope observations, provide further evidence of increased dispersion in the UV emission with respect to the optical. The peak luminosities measured in the uvw1/F250W filter are found to correlate with the B-band light-curve shape parameter Δm15(B), but with much larger scatter relative to the correlation in the broadband B band (e.g., ~0.4 mag versus ~0.2 mag for those with 0.8 mag <Δm 15(B) < 1.7 mag). SN 2004dt is found as an outlier of this correlation (at>3σs), being brighter than normal SNe Ia such as SN 2005cf by ~0.9m a g and ~2.0 mag in the uvw1/F250W and uvm2/F220W filters, respectively. We show that different progenitor metallicity or line-expansion velocities alone cannot explain such a large discrepancy. Viewing-angle effects, such as due to an asymmetric explosion, may have a significant influence on the flux emitted in the UV region. Detailed modeling is needed to disentangle and quantify the above effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work combines new observations of NIR starlight linear polarimetry with previously simulated observations in order to constrain dynamo models of the Galactic magnetic field. Polarimetric observations were obtained with the Mimir instrument on the Perkins Telescope in Flagstaff, AZ, along a line of constant Galactic longitude (l = 150°) with 17 pointings of the 10' x 10' field of view between -75° < b < 10°, with more frequent pointings toward the Galactic midplane. A total of 10,962 stars were photometrically measured and 1116 had usable polarizations. The observed distribution of polarization position angles with Galactic latitude and the cumulative distribution function of the measured polarizations are compared to predicted values. While the predictions lack the effects of turbulence and are therefore idealized, this comparison allows significant rejection of A0-type magnetic field models. S0 and disk-even halo-odd magnetic field geometries are also rejected by the observations, but at lower significance. New predictions of spiral-type, axisymmetric magnetic fields, when combined with these new NIR observations, constrain the Galactic magnetic field spiral pitch angle to -6° ± 2°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the fundamental principles of H2 formation in a giant molecular cloud, we derive the HI and H2 surface density (∑HI and ∑H2) images of the Perseus molecular cloud on sub-pc scales (~0.4 pc). We use the far-infrared data from the Improved Reprocessing of the IRAS Survey and the V-band extinction image provided by the COMPLETE Survey to estimate the dust column density image of Perseus. In combination with the Hi data from the Galactic Arecibo L-band Feed Array Hi Survey and an estimate of the local dust-to-gas ratio, we then derive the ∑H2 distribution across Perseus. We find a relatively uniform ∑HI ~ 6-8 Mʘ pc-2 for both dark and star-forming regions, suggesting a minimum Hi surface density required to shield H2 against photodissociation. As a result, a remarkably tight and consistent relation is found between ∑H2/∑HI and ∑HI + ∑H2. The transition between the HI- and H2-dominated regions occurs at N(Hi) + 2N(H2) ~ (8-14) x 1020 cm-2. Our findings are consistent with predictions for H2 formation in equilibrium, suggesting that turbulence may not be of primary importance for H2 formation. However, the importance of a warm neutral medium for H2 shielding, an internal radiation field, and the timescale of H2 formation still remain as open questions. We also compare H2 and CO distributions and estimate the fraction of "CO-dark" gas, fDG ~ 0.3. While significant spatial variations of FDG are found, we do not find a clear correlation with the mean V-band extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, using a large low-redshift sample of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), we discovered a relation between SN Ia ejecta velocity and intrinsic color that improves the distance precision of SNe Ia and reduces potential systematic biases related to dust reddening. No SN Ia cosmological results have yet made a correction for the "velocity--color" relation. To test the existence of such a relation and constrain its properties at high redshift, we examine a sample of 75 SNe Ia discovered and observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey and Supernova Legacy Survey. From each spectrum, we measure ejecta velocities at maximum brightness for the Ca H&K and Si ɪɪ λ6355 features, Ʋ0CaH&K and Ʋ0Si ɪ, respectively. Using SN light curve parameters, we determine the intrinsic Bmax -- Vmax for each SN. Similar to what was found at low redshift, we find that SNe Ia with higher ejecta velocity tend to be intrinsically redder than SNe Ia with lower ejecta velocity. The distributions of ejecta velocities for SNe Ia at low and high redshift are similar, indicating that current cosmological results should have little bias related to the velocity--color relation. Additionally, we find a slight (2.4sσ significant) trend between SN Ia ejecta velocity and host-galaxy mass such that SNe Ia in high-mass host galaxies tend to have lower ejecta velocities as probed by Ʋ0CaH&K. These results emphasize the importance of spectroscopy for SN Ia cosmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATLASGAL 870 μm continuum survey conducted with the APEX telescope is the first one covering the whole inner Galactic plane (60° > l > -60° and b < ±1.°5) in submillimeter (submm) continuum emission tracing the cold dust of dense and young star-forming regions. Here, we present the overall distribution of sources within our Galactic disk. The submm continuum emission is confined to a narrow range around the Galactic plane, but shifted on average by ~0.07 deg below the plane. Source number counts show strong enhancements toward the Galactic center, the spiral arms, and toward prominent star-forming regions. Comparing the distribution of ATLASGAL dust continuum emission to that of young intermediate- to high-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) derived from Spitzer data, we find similarities as well as differences. In particular, the distribution of submm dust continuum emission is significantly more confined to the plane than the YSO distribution (FWHM of 0.7 and 1.1 deg, corresponding to mean physical scale heights of approximately 46 and 80 pc, respectively). While this difference may partly be caused by the large extinction from the dense submm cores, gradual dispersal of stellar distributions after their birth could also contribute to this effect. Compared to other tracers of Galactic structure, the ATLASGAL data are strongly confined to a narrow latitude strip around the Galactic plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Icy surfaces in our solar system are continually modified and sputtered with electrons, ions, and photons from solar wind, cosmic rays, and local magnetospheres in the cases of Jovian and Saturnian satellites. In addition to their prevalence, electrons specifically are expected to be a principal radiolytic agent on these satellites. Among energetic particles (electrons and ions), electrons penetrate by far the deepest into the ice and could cause damage to organic material of possible prebiotic and even biological importance. To determine if organic matter could survive and be detected through remote sensing or in situ explorations on these surfaces, such as water ice-rich Europa, it is important to obtain accurate data quantifying electron-induced chemistry and damage depths of organics at varying incident electron energies. Experiments reported here address the quantification issue at lower electron energies (100 eV-2 keV) through rigorous laboratory data analysis obtained using a novel methodology. A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule, pyrene, embedded in amorphous water ice films of controlled thicknesses served as an organic probe. UV-VIS spectroscopic measurements enabled quantitative assessment of organic matter survival depths in water ice. Eight ices of various thicknesses were studied to determine damage depths more accurately. The electron damage depths were found to be linear, approximately 110 nm keV-1, in the tested range which is noticeably higher than predictions by Monte Carlo simulations by up to 100%. We conclude that computational simulations underestimate electron damage depths in the energy region ≤2 keV. If this trend holds at higher electron energies as well, present models utilizing radiation-induced organic chemistry in icy solar system bodies need to be revisited. For interstellar ices of a few micron thicknesses, we conclude that low-energy electrons generated through photoionization processes in the interstellar medium could penetrate through ice grains significantly and trigger organic reactions several hundred nanometers deep--bulk chemistry thus competing with surface chemistry of astrophysical ice grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We produce three-dimensional Monte Carlo radiative transfer models of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891, a fast-rotating galaxy thought to be an analog to the Milky Way. The models contain realistic spiral arms and a fractal distribution of clumpy dust. We fit our models to Hubble Space Telescope images corresponding to the B and I bands, using shapelet analysis and a genetic algorithm to generate 30 statistically best-fitting models. These models have a strong preference for spirality and clumpiness, with average face-on attenuation decreasing from 0.24(0.16) to 0.03(0.03) mag in the B(I) band between 0.5 and 2 radial scale-lengths. Most of the attenuation comes from small high-density clumps with low (≲10%) filling factors. The fraction of dust in clumps is broadly consistent with results from fitting NGC 891's spectral energy distribution. Because of scattering effects and the intermixed nature of the dust and starlight, attenuation is smaller and less wavelength-dependent than the integrated dust column density. Our clumpy models typically have higher attenuation at low inclinations than previous radiative transfer models using smooth distributions of stars and dust, but similar attenuation at inclinations above 70'. At all inclinations, most clumpy models have less attenuation than expected from previous estimates based on minimizing scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation. Mass-to-light ratios are higher and the intrinsic scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation is larger than previously expected for galaxies similar to NGC 891. The attenuation curve changes as a function of inclination, with RB,B-I = AB/(E(B - I)) increasing by ~0.75 from face-on to near-edge-on orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the formation of silicon carbide (SiC) grains in the framework of dust-driven wind around pulsating carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (C-rich AGB) stars to reveal not only the amount but also the size distribution. Two cases are considered for the nucleation process: one is the local thermal equilibrium (LTE) case where the vibration temperature of SiC clusters 7v is equal to the gas temperature as usual, and another is the non-LTE case in which Tv is assumed to be the same as the temperature of small SiC grains. The results of the hydrodynamical calculations for a model with stellar parameters of mass M* = 1.0 Mʘ, luminosity L* = 104 Lʘ, effective temperature Teff = 2600 K, C/O ratio = 1.4, and pulsation period P = 650 days show the following: in the LTE case, SiC grains condense in accelerated outflowing gas after the formation of carbon grains, and the resulting averaged mass ratio of SiC to carbon grains of ~10-8 is too small to reproduce the value of 0.01-0.3, which is inferred from the radiative transfer models. On the other hand, in the non-LTE case, the formation region of the SiC grains is more internal and/or almost identical to that of the carbon grains due to the so-called inverse greenhouse effect. The mass ratio of SiC to carbon grains averaged at the outer boundary ranges from 0.098 to 0.23 for the sticking probability αs = 0.1-1.0. The size distributions with the peak at ~0.2-0.3 /µm in radius cover the range of size derived from the analysis of the presolar SiC grains. Thus, the difference between the temperatures of the small cluster and gas plays a crucial role in the formation process of SiC grains around C-rich AGB stars, and this aspect should be explored for the formation process of dust grains in astrophysical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report high-resolution multi-station observations of meteors by the Canadian Automated Meteor Observatory recorded from 2009 June to 2010 August. Our survey has a limiting detection magnitude of +5 mag in R band, equivalent to a limiting meteoroid mass of ~2 x 10-7 kg. The high metric trajectory accuracy (of the order of 30 m perpendicular to the solution and 200 m along track) allows us to determine velocities with average uncertainty of < 1.5% in speed and ~0°.4 in the radiant direction. A total of 1739 meteors had measured orbits. The data have been searched for meteors in hyperbolic orbits, which are potentially of interstellar origin. We found 22 potential hyperbolic meteors among our sample, with only two of them having a speed at least 3σ above the hyperbolic limit. For our one-year survey we find no clear evidence of interstellar meteoroids at millimeter sizes in a weighted time-area product of ~ 104 km² hr. Backward integrations performed for these 22 potentially hyperbolic meteors to check for close encounters with planets show no considerable changes in their orbits. Detailed examination leads us to conclude that our few identified events are most likely the result of measurement error. We find an upper limit of fISP < 2 x 10-4 km-2 hr-1 for the flux of interstellar meteoroids at Earth with a limiting mass of m > 2 x 10-7 kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present deep Chandra observations and Spitzer Space Telescope infrared (IR) spectroscopy of the shell in the composite supernova remnant (SNR) Kes 75 (G29.7-0.3). The remnant is composed of a central pulsar wind nebula and a bright partial shell in the south that is visible at radio, IR, and X-ray wavelengths. The X-ray emission can be modeled by either a single thermal component with a temperature of ~1.5 keV, or with two thermal components with temperatures of 1.5 and 0.2 keV. Previous studies suggest that the hot component may originate from reverse-shocked supernova (SN) ejecta. However, our new analysis shows no definitive evidence for enhanced abundances of Si, S, Ar, Mg, and Fe, as expected from SN ejecta, or for the IR spectral signatures characteristic of confirmed SN condensed dust, thus favoring a circumstellar or interstellar origin for the X-ray and IR emission. The X-ray and IR emission in the shell are spatially correlated, suggesting that the dust particles are collisionally heated by the X-ray emitting gas. The IR spectrum of the shell is dominated by continuum emission from dust with little, or no lin emission. Modeling the IR spectrum shows that the dust is heated to a temperature of ~ 140 K by a relatively dense, hot plasma that also gives rise to the hot X-ray emission component. The density inferred from the IR emission is significantly higher than the density inferred from the X-ray models, suggesting a low filling factor for this X-ray emitting gas. The total mass of the warm dust component is at least 1.3 x 10-2 Mʘ, assuming no significant du destruction has occurred in the shell. The IR data also reveal the presence of an additional plasma component with a cooler temperature, consistent with the 0.2 keV gas component. Our IR analysis therefore provides an independent verification of the cooler component of the X-ray emission. The complementary analyses of the X-ray and IR emission provide quantitative estimates of density and filling factors of the clumpy medium swept up by the SNR [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an infrared (IR) study of the supernova remnant (SNR) N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud with the near-IR (NIR; 2.5-5 µm) spectroscopic observations performed by AKARI. The observations were performed as a coarse spectral mapping to cover most of the bright region in the east, which enables us to compare the distribution of various line emissions and to examine their correlation. We detect the 3.3 µm aromatic feature in the remnant, which is the first time the presence of the 3.3 µm aromatic feature related to an SNR has been reported. In the line maps of the II2 1-0 O(3), the 3.3 µm feature, and the Brα, the distribution of the aromatic feature shows overall correlation with those of other emissions together with regional differences that reflect the local physical conditions. By comparing other archival imaging data at different wavelengths, the association of the aromatic emission with other ionic/molecular emissions is clarified. We examine the archival Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph data of N49 and find signatures of other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features at 6.2, 7.7, and 11.3 µm corresponding to the 3.3 µm aromatic feature. Based on the band ratios of the PAHs, we find that the PAHs in N49 are not only dominantly neutral, but they are also small in size. We discuss the origin of the PAH emission in N49 and conclude that the emission is either from the PAHs that have survived the shock or from the PAHs in the preshock gas that was heated by the radiative precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We take advantage of the sensitivity and resolution of the Herschel Space Observatory, at 100 and 160 µm to directly image the thermal dust emission and investigate the infrared luminosities (LIR) and dust obscuration of typical star-forming (L*) galaxies at high redshift. Our sample consists of 146 UV-selected galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts 1.5 ≤ zspec < 2.6 in the GOODS-North field. Supplemented with deep Very Large Array and Spitzer imaging, we construct median stacks at the positions of these galaxies at 24, 100, and 160 µm, and 1.4 GHz. The comparison between these stacked fluxes and a variety of dust templates and calibrations implies that typical star-forming galaxies with UV luminosities LUV ≳ 1010 L⊙ at z ~ 2 are luminous infrared galaxies with a median LIR = (2.2 ± 0.3) x 1011 L⊙. Their median ratio of LIR to rest-frame 8 µm luminosity (L8) is LIR/L8 = 8.9 ± 1.3 and is ≈80% larger than that found for most star-forming galaxies at z ≲ 2. This apparent redshift evolution in the LIR/L8 ratio may be tied to the trend of larger infrared luminosity surface density for z ≳ 2 galaxies relative to those at lower redshift. Typical galaxies at 1.5 ≤ z < 2.6 have a median dust obscuration LIR/LUV = 7.1 ± 1.1, which corresponds to a dust correction factor, required to recover the bolometric star formation rate (SFR) from the unobscured UV SFR, of 5.2 ± 0.6. This result is similar to that inferred from previous investigations of the UV, Hα, 24 µm, radio, and X-ray properties of the same galaxies studied here. Stacking in bins of UV slope (β) implies that L* galaxies with redder spectral slopes are also dustier and that the correlation between β and dustiness is similar to that found for local starburst galaxies. Hence, the rest-frame ≃30 and 50 µm fluxes validate on average the use of the local UV attenuation curve to recover the dust attenuation of typical star-forming galaxies at high redshift. In the simplest interpretation, the agreement between the local and high-redshift UV attenuation curves suggests a similarity in the dust production and stellar and dust geometries of starburst galaxies over the last 10 billion years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measure the optical spectrum of the diffuse Galactic light (DGL)--the local Milky Way in reflection--using 92,000 blank sky spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We correlate the SDSS optical intensity in regions of blank sky against 100µm intensity independently measured by the Cosmic Background Explorer and Infrared Astronomy satellites, which provides a measure of the dust column density times the intensity of illuminating starlight. The spectrum of scattered light is very blue and shows a clear 4000 Å break and broad Mg b absorption. This is consistent with scattered starlight, and the continuum of the DGL is well reproduced by a simple radiative transfer model of the Galaxy. We also detect line emission in Hα, Hβ, [N II], and [S II], consistent with scattered light from the local interstellar medium. The strength of [N II] and [S II], combined with upper limits on [O III] and He I, indicates a relatively soft ionizing spectrum. We find that our measurements of the DGL can constrain dust models, favoring a grain size distribution with relatively few large grains. We also estimate the fraction of high-latitude Hα which is scattered to be 19% ± 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of near- to mid-infrared slit spectroscopic observations (2.55-13.4 µm) of the diffuse emission toward nine positions in the Large Magellanic Cloud with the infrared camera on board AKARI. The target positions are selected to cover a wide range of the intensity of the incident radiation field. The unidentified infrared bands at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 µm are detected toward all the targets and ionized gas signatures; hydrogen recombination lines and ionic forbidden lines are detected toward three of them. We classify the targets into two groups: those without the ionized gas signatures (Group A) and those with the ionized signatures (Group B). Group A includes molecular clouds and photodissociation regions, whereas Group B consists of H II regions, in Group A, the band ratios of I3.3µm/I11.31micro;m/I6.2µm/I11.3µm, I7.7µm/I11.3µm, and I8.6µm/l11.3µm show positive correlation with the IRAS and AKARI colors, but those of Group B do not follow the correlation. We discuss the results in terms of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) model and attribute the difference to the destruction of small PAHs and an increase in the recombination due to the high electron density in Group B. In the present study, the 3.3 µm band provides crucial information on the size distribution and/or the excitation conditions of PAHs and plays a key role in the distinction of Group A from B. The results suggest the possibility of the diagram of I13.3µm/I11.3µm versus I7.7µm/I11.3µm as an efficient diagnostic tool to infer the physical conditions of the interstellar medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first tungsten isotopic measurements in stardust silicon carbide (SiC) grains recovered from the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite. The isotopes 182, 183, 184, 186W and 179, 180Hf were measured on both an aggregate (KJB fraction) and single stardust SiC grains (LS+LU fraction) believed to have condensed in the outflows of low-mass carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with close-to-solar metallicity. The SiC aggregate shows small deviations from terrestrial (= solar) composition in the 182W/184W and 183W/184W ratios, with deficits in 182W and 183W with respect to 184W. The 186W/184W ratio, however, shows no apparent deviation from the solar value. Tungsten isotopic measurements in single mainstream stardust SiC grains revealed lower than solar 182W/184W, 183W/184W, and 186W/184W ratios. We have compared the SiC data with theoretical predictions of the evolution of W isotopic ratios in the envelopes of AGB stars. These ratios are affected by the slow neutron-capture process and match the SiC data regarding their 182W/184W, 183W/184W, and 179Hf/180Hf isotopic compositions, although a small adjustment in the s-process production of 183W is needed in order to have a better agreement between the SiC data and model predictions. The models cannot explain the 186W/184W ratios observed in the SiC grains, even when the current 185W neutron-capture cross section is increased by a factor of two. Further study is required to better assess how model uncertainties (e.g., the formation of the 13C neutron source, the mass-loss law, the modeling of the third dredge-up, and the efficiency of the 22Ne neutron source) may affect current s-process predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present BVRIJHK-band photometry of six core-collapse supernovae, SNe 1999bw, 2002hh, 2003gd, 2004et, 2005cs, and 2006bc, measured at late epochs (>2 yr) based on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and the Gemini North, and WIYN telescopes. We also show the JHK light curves of supernova impostor SN 2008S up to day 575 because it was serendipitously in our SN 2002hh field of view. Of our 43 HST observations in total, 36 observations are successful in detecting the light from the SNe alone and measuring magnitudes of all the targets. HST observations show a resolved scattered light echo around SN 2003gd at day 1520 and around SN 2002hh at day 1717. Our Gemini and WIYN observations detected SNe 2002hh and 2004et as well. Combining our data with previously published data, we show VRIJHK-band light curves and estimate decline magnitude rates at each band in four different phases. Our prior work on these light curves and other data indicate that dust is forming in our targets from days ~300 to 400, supporting SN dust formation theory. In this paper we focus on other physical properties derived from late-time light curves. We estimate 56Ni masses for our targets (0.5-14 x 10-2 M⊙) from the bolometric light curve of each of days ~150-300 using SN 1987A as a standard (7.5 x 10-2 M⊙). The flattening or sometimes increasing fluxes in the late-time light curves of SNe 2002hh, 2003gd, 2004et, and 2006bc indicate the presence of light echoes. We estimate the circumstellar hydrogen density of the material causing the light echo and find that SN 2002hh is surrounded by relatively dense materials (n(H) >400 cm-3) and SNe 2003gd and 2004et have densities more typical of the interstellar medium (~1 cm-3). We analyze the sample as a whole in the context of physical properties derived in prior work. The 56Ni mass appears well correlated with progenitor mass with a slope of 0.31 x 10-2, supporting the previous work by Maeda et al., who locus on more massive Type II SNe. The dust mass does not appear to be correlated with progenitor mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of mid-infrared spectroscopic mapping observations of six star-forming regions in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) from the Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of the SMC (S4MC). We detect the mid-IR emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in all of the mapped regions, greatly increasing the range of environments where PAHs have been spectroscopically detected in the SMC. We investigate the variations of the mid-IR bands in each region and compare our results to studies of the PAH bands in the SINGS sample and in a sample of low-metallicity starburst galaxies. PAH emission in the SMC is characterized by low ratios of the 6-9 µm features relative to the 11.3 µm feature and weak 8.6 and 17.0 µm features. Interpreting these band ratios in the light of laboratory and theoretical studies, we find that PAHs in the SMC tend to be smaller and less ionized than those in higher metallicity galaxies. Based on studies of PAH destruction, we argue that a size distribution shifted toward smaller PAHs cannot be the result of processing in the interstellar medium, but instead reflects differences in the formation of PAHs at low metallicity. Finally, we discuss the implications of our observations for our understanding of the PAH life-cycle in low-metallicity galaxies--namely that the observed deficit of PAHs may be a consequence of PAHs forming with smaller average sizes and therefore being more susceptible to destruction under typical interstellar medium conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform three-dimensional dust radiative transfer (RT) calculations on hydrodynamic simulations of isolated and merging disk galaxies in order to quantitatively study the dependence of observed-frame submillimeter (submm) flux density on galaxy properties. We find that submm flux density and star formation rate (SFR) are related in dramatically different ways for quiescently star-forming galaxies and starbursts. Because the stars formed in the merger-induced starburst do not dominate the bolometric luminosity and the rapid drop in dust mass and more compact geometry cause a sharp increase in dust temperature during the burst, starbursts are very inefficient at boosting submm flux density (e.g., a ≳ 16c boost in SFR yields a ≲2x boost in submm flux density). Moreover, the ratio of submm flux density to SFR differs significantly between the two modes; thus one cannot assume that the galaxies with highest submm flux density are necessarily those with the highest bolometric luminosity or SFR. These results have important consequences for the bright submillimeter-selected galaxy (SMG) population. Among them are: (1) The SMG population is heterogeneous. In addition to merger-driven starbursts, there is a subpopulation of galaxy pairs, where two disks undergoing a major merger but not yet strongly interacting are blended into one submm source because of the large (≳15" or ~ 130 kpc at z = 2) beam of single-dish submm telescopes. (2) SMGs must be very massive (M* ≳ 6 x 1010 M⊙), (3) The infall phase makes the SMG duty cycle a factor of a few greater than what is expected for a merger-driven starburst. Finally, we provide fitting functions for SCUBA and AZTEC submm flux densities as a function of SFR and dust mass and bolometric luminosity and dust mass; these should be useful for calculating submm flux density in semi-analytic models and cosmological simulations when performing full RT is computationally not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust formation in the winds of hot stars is inextricably linked to the classic eruptive state of luminous blue variables because it requires very high mass-loss rates, Ṁ ≳ 10-2.5 M⊙ year-1, for grains to grow and for the non-dust optical depth of the wind to shield the dust formation region from the true stellar photosphere. Thus, dusty shells around hot stars trace the history of "great" eruptions, and the statistics of such shells in the Galaxy indicate that these eruptions are likely the dominant mass-loss mechanism for evolved, MZAMS ≳ 40 M⊙ stars. Dust formation at such high Ṁ also explains why very large grains (amax ≳ 1 µm) are frequently found in these shells, since amax ∝ Ṁ. The statistics of these shells (numbers, ages, masses, and grain properties such as amax) provide an archaeological record of this mass-loss process. In particular, the velocities vshell, transient durations (where known), and ejected masses Mshell of the Galactic shells and the supernova (SN) "impostors" proposed as their extragalactic counterparts are very different. While much of the difference is a selection effect created by shell lifetimes ∝ (vshell √Mshell-1 more complete Galactic and extragalactic surveys are needed to demonstrate that the two phenomena share a common origin given that their observed properties are essentially disjoint. If even small fractions (1%) of SNe show interactions with such dense shells of ejecta, as is currently believed, then the driving mechanism of the eruptions must be associated with the very final phases of stellar evolution, suggestive of some underlying nuclear burning instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a fast and accurate calculation method for ionization degrees in protoplanetary and circumplanetary disks including dust grains. We apply our method to calculate the ionization degree of circumplanetary disks. It is important to understand the structure and evolution of protoplanetary/circumplanetary disks since they are thought to be the sites of planet/satellite formation. The turbulence that causes gas accretion is supposed to be driven by magnetorotational instability (MRI) that occurs only when the ionization degree is high enough for magnetic field to be coupled to gas. We calculate the ionization degrees in circumplanetary disks to estimate the sizes of MRI-inactive regions. We properly include the effect of dust grains because they efficiently capture charged particles and make ionization degree lower. Inclusion of dust grains complicates the reaction equations and requires expensive computation. In order to accelerate the calculation of ionization reactions, we develop a semianalytic method based on the charge distribution model proposed previously. This method enables us to study the ionization state of disks for a wide range of model parameters. For a previous model of circum-Jovian disk, we find that an MRl-inactive region covers almost all regions even without dust grains. This suggests that the gas accretion rates in circumplanetary disks are much smaller than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007, R Coronae Borealis (R CrB) went into a historically deep and long decline. In this state, the dust acts like a natural coronagraph at visible wavelengths, allowing faint nebulosity around the star to be seen. Imaging has been obtained from 0.5 to 500 µm with Gemini/GMOS, Hubble Space Telescope/WFPC2, Spitzer/MIPS, and Herschel/SPIRE. Several of the structures around R CrB are cometary globules caused by wind from the star streaming past dense blobs. The estimated dust mass of the knots is consistent with their being responsible for the R CrB declines if they form along the line of sight to the star. In addition, there is a large diffuse shell extending up to 4 pc away from the star containing cool 25 K dust that is detected all the way out to 500 µm. The spectral energy distribution of R CrB can be well fitted by a 150 AU disk surrounded by a very large diffuse envelope which corresponds to the size of the observed nebulosity. The total masses of the disk and envelope are 10-4 and 2 M⊙, respectively, assuming a gas-to-dust ratio of 100. The evidence pointing toward a white dwarf merger or a final-helium-shell flash origin for R CrB is contradictory. The shell and the cometary knots are consistent with a fossil planetary nebula. Along with the fact that R CrB shows significant lithium in its atmosphere, this supports the final-helium-shell flash. However, the relatively high inferred mass of R CrB and its high fluorine abundance support a white dwarf merger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand how best to use observations of Type la supernovae (SNe la) to obtain precise and accurate distances. we investigate the relations between spectra of SNe la and their intrinsic colors. Using a sample of 1630 optical spectra of 255 SNe, based primarily on data from the CfA Supernova Program, we examine how the velocity evolution and line strengths of Si II λ6355 and CaII H&K are related to the B - V color at peak brightness. We find that the maximum-light velocity of Si II λ6355 and Ca II H&K and the maximum-light pseudo-equivalent width of Si II λ6355 are correlated with intrinsic color, with intrinsic color having a linear relation with the Si II λ6355 measurements. Ca II H&K does not have a linear relation with intrinsic color, but lower-velocity SNe tend to be intrinsically bluer. Combining the spectroscopic measurements does not improve intrinsic color inference. The intrinsic color scatter is larger for higher-velocity SNe Ia--even after removing a linear trend with velocity--indicating that lower-velocity SNe Ia are more "standard crayons." Employing information derived from SN Ia spectra has the potential to improve the measurements of extragalactic distances and the cosmological properties inferred from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulence driven by magnetorotational instability (MRI) crucially affects the evolution of solid bodies in protoplanetary disks. On the other hand, small dust particles stabilize MRI by capturing ionized gas particles needed for the coupling of the gas and magnetic fields. To provide an empirical basis for modeling the coevolution of dust and MRI, we perform three-dimensional, ohmic-resistive MHD simulations of a vertically stratified shearing box with an MRI-inactive "dead zone" of various sizes and with a net vertical magnetic flux of various strengths. We find that the vertical structure of turbulence is well characterized by the vertical magnetic flux and three critical heights derived from the linear analysis of MRI in a stratified disk. In particular, the turbulent structure depends on the resistivity profile only through the critical heights and is insensitive to the details of the resistivity profile. We discover scaling relations between the amplitudes of various turbulent quantities (velocity dispersion, density fluctuation, vertical diffusion coefficient, and outflow mass flux) and vertically integrated accretion stresses. We also obtain empirical formulae for the integrated accretion stresses as a function of the vertical magnetic flux and the critical heights. These empirical relations allow us to predict the vertical turbulent structure of a protoplanetary disk for a given strength of the magnetic flux and a given resistivity profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report Hubble Space Telescope observations of six gravitational lenses with the Advanced Camera for Surveys. We measured the flux ratios between the lensed images in seven filters from 8140 Å to 2200 Å. In three of the systems, HE0512-3329, B1600+434, and H1413+117, we were able to construct UV extinction curves partially overlapping the 2175 Å feature and characterize the properties of the dust relative to the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. In HE1104-1804, we detect chromatic microlensing and use it to study the physical properties of the quasar accretion disk. For a Gaussian model of the disk Due to image rights restrictions, multiple line equation(s) cannot be graphically displayed., scaling with wavelength as rs ∝ λp, we estimate Due to image rights restrictions, multiple line equation(s) cannot be graphically displayed (7 ± 4) light days and p = 1.1 ± 0.6 (1.0 ± 0.6) for a logarithmic (linear) prior on rs. The remaining two systems, FBQ0951+2635 and SBS1520+530, yielded no useful estimates of extinction or chromatic microlensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol (CH3OH) is thought to be an important link in the chain of chemical evolution that leads from simple diatomic interstellar molecules to complex organic species in protoplanetary disks that may be delivered to the surfaces of Earthlike planets. Previous research has shown that CH3OH forms in the interstellar medium predominantly on the surfaces of dust grains. To enhance our understanding of the conditions that lead to its efficient production, we assemble a homogenized catalog of published detections and limiting values in interstellar and preplanetary ices for both CH3OH and the other commonly observed C- and O-bearing species, H2O, CO, and CO2. We use this catalog to investigate the abundance of ice-phase CH3OH in environments ranging from dense molecular clouds to circumstellar envelopes around newly born stars of low and high mass. Results show that CH3OH production arises during the CO freezeout phase of ice-mantle growth in the clouds, after an ice layer rich in H2O and CO2 is already in place on the dust, in agreement with current astrochemical models. The abundance of solid-phase CH3OH in this environment is sufficient to account for observed gas-phase abundances when the ices are subsequently desorbed in the vicinity of embedded stars. CH3OH concentrations in the ices toward embedded stars show order-of-magnitude object-to-object variations, even in a sample restricted to stars of low mass associated with ices lacking evidence of thermal processing. We hypothesize that the efficiency of CH3OH production in dense cores and protostellar envelopes is mediated by the degree of prior CO depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Spitzer Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) spectral energy distribution (SED) and Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) observations of 14 Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) previously identified in the GLIMPSE survey. We find evidence for SNR/molecular cloud interaction through detection of [OI] emission, ionic lines, and emission from molecular hydrogen. Through blackbody fitting of the MIPS SEDs we find the large grains to be warm, 29-66 K. The dust emission is modeled using the DUSTEM code and a three-component dust model composed of populations of big grains (BGs), very small grains (VSGs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We find the dust to be moderately heated, typically by 30-100 times the interstellar radiation field. The source of the radiation is likely hydrogen recombination, where the excitation of hydrogen occurred in the shock front. The ratio of VSGs to BGs is found for most of the molecular interacting SNRs to be higher than that found in the plane of the Milky Way, typically by a factor of 2-3. We suggest that dust shattering is responsible for the relative overabundance of small grains, in agreement with the prediction from dust destruction models. However, two of the SNRs are best fitted with a very low abundance of carbon grains to silicate grains and with a very high radiation field. A likely reason for the low abundance of small carbon grains is sputtering. We find evidence for silicate emission at 20 fim in their SEDs, indicating that they are young SNRs based on the strong radiation field necessary to reproduce the observed SEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to now, no laboratory-based study has investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) species as potential carriers of both the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and the 2175 Å U V bump. We examined the proposed correlation between these two features by applying experimental and theoretical techniques on two specific medium-sized/large PAHs (dibenzorubicene C30H14 and hexabenzocoronene C42H18) in their neutral and cationic states. It was already shown that mixtures of sufficiently large, neutral PAHs can partly or even completely account for the UV bump. We investigated how the absorption bands are altered upon ionization of these molecules by interstellar UV photons. The experimental studies presented here were realized by performing matrix isolation spectroscopy with subsequent far-UV irradiation. The main effects were found to be a broadening of the absorption bands in the UV combined with slight redshifts. The position of the complete π-π* absorption structure around 217.5 nm, however, remains more or less unchanged, which could explain the observed position invariance of the interstellar bump for different lines of sight. This favors the assignment of this feature to the interstellar PAH population. As far as the DIBs are concerned, neither our investigations nor the laboratory studies carried out by other research groups support a possible connection with this class of molecules. Instead, there are reasonable arguments that neutral and singly ionized cationic PAHs cannot be held responsible for the DIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report results from a multi-wavelength analysis of the Galactic supernova remnant RCW 86, the proposed remnant of the supernova of 185 A.D. We show new infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, where the entire shell is detected at 24 and 22 µm. We fit the infrared flux ratios with models of collisionally heated ambient dust, finding post-shock gas densities in the non-radiative shocks of 2.4 and 2.0 cm-3 in the southwest (SW) and northwest (NW) portions of the remnant, respectively. The Balmer-dominated shocks around the periphery of the shell, large amount of iron in the X-ray-emitting ejecta, and lack of a compact remnant support a Type la origin for this remnant. From hydrodynamic simulations, the observed characteristics of RCW 86 are successfully reproduced by an off-center explosion in a low-density cavity carved by the progenitor system. This would make RCW 86 the first known case of a Type la supernova in a wind-blown bubble. The fast shocks (>3000 km s-1) observed in the northeast are propagating in the low-density bubble, where the shock is just beginning to encounter the shell, while the slower shocks elsewhere have already encountered the bubble wall. The diffuse nature of the synchrotron emission in the SW and NW is due to electrons that were accelerated early in the lifetime of the remnant, when the shock was still in the bubble. Electrons in a bubble could produce gamma rays by inverse-Compton scattering. The wind-blown bubble scenario requires a single-degenerate progenitor, which should leave behind a companion star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various spectral emission lines from the star-forming molecular cloud core L1517B manifest red asymmetric double-peaked profiles with stronger red peaks and weaker blue peaks, in contrast to the oft-observed blue-skewed molecular spectral line profiles with blue peaks stronger than red peaks. Invoking a spherically symmetric general polytropic hydrodynamic shock model for the envelope expansion with a core collapse (EECC) phase, we show the radial flow velocity, mass density, and temperature structures of a self-similar evolution for LI 517B in a dynamically consistent manner. By prescribing simple radial profiles of abundance distribution for pertinent molecules, we perform molecular excitation and radiative transfer calculations using the publicly available RATRAN code set for the spherically symmetric case. Emphatically, the spectral profiles of line emissions from the same molecules but for different line transitions as well as spectra of closely pertinent isotopologues strongly constrain the self-similar hydrodynamics of a cloud core with prescribed abundances. Our computational results show that the EECC model reproduces molecular spectral line profiles in sensible agreement with the observational data of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM), Five College Radio Astronomical Observatory, and Effelsberg 100 m telescopes for L1517B. We also report the spatially resolved observations of the optically thick line HCO+(1 - 0) using the Purple Mountain Observatory 13.7 m telescope at Delingha in China and the relevant fitting results. Hyperfine line structures of NH3 and N2H+ transitions are also fitted to consistently reveal the dynamics of the central core collapse. As a consistent model check, radial profiles of 1.2 mm and 850 µm dust continua observed by the IRAM 30 m telescope and the Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array, respectively, are also fitted numerically using the same EECC model that produces the molecular line profiles. L1517B is likely undergoing an EECC shock phase. For future observational tests, we also predict several molecular line profiles with spatial distributions, the radial profile of the sub-millimeter continuum at wavelength 450 µm, as well as the radial profiles of the column density and visual extinction for L1517B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a Green Bank Telescope survey of NH3(1,1), (2,2), (3,3) lines toward 631 Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS) sources at a range of Galactic longitudes in the inner Galaxy. We have detected the NH3(1,1) line toward 72% of our targets (456), demonstrating that the high column density features identified in the BGPS and other continuum surveys accurately predict the presence of dense gas. We have determined kinematic distances and resolved the distance ambiguity for all BGPS sources detected in NH3. The BGPS sources trace the locations of the Scutum and Sagittarius spiral arms, with the number of sources peaking between RGal ~ 4 and 5 kpc. We measure the physical properties of each source and find that depending on the distance, BGPS sources are primarily clumps, with some cores and clouds. We have examined the physical properties as a function of Galactocentric distance, and find a mean gas kinetic temperature of 15.6 K, and that the NH3 column density and abundance decrease by nearly an order of magnitude between RGal ~ 3 and 11 kpc. Comparing sources at similar distances demonstrates that the physical properties are indistinguishable, which suggests a similarity in clump structure across the Galactic disk. We have also compared the BGPS sources to criteria for efficient star formation presented independently by Heiderman et al. and Lada et al., and for massive star formation presented by Kauffmann et al. Forty-eight percent of our sample should be forming stars (including massive stars) with high efficiency, and 87% contain subregions that should be efficiently forming stars. Indeed, we find that 67% of the sample exhibit signs of star formation activity based on an association with a mid-infrared source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planck is expected to answer crucial questions on the early universe, but it also provides further understanding on anomalous microwave emission. Electric dipole emission from spinning dust grains continues to be the favored interpretation of anomalous microwave emission. In this paper, we present a method to calculate the rotational emission from small grains of irregular shape with moments of inertia I1 ≥ I2 ≥ I3. We show that a torque-free rotating irregular grain with a given angular momentum radiates at multiple frequency modes. The resulting spinning dust spectrum has peak frequency and emissivity increasing with the degree of grain shape irregularity, which is defined by I1:I2:I3. We discuss how the orientation of the dipole moment μ in body coordinates affects the spinning dust spectrum for different regimes of internal thermal fluctuations. We show that the spinning dust emissivity for the case of strong thermal fluctuations is less sensitive to the orientation of μ than in the case of weak thermal fluctuations. We calculate spinning dust spectra for a range of gas density and dipole moment. The effect of compressible turbulence on spinning dust emission is investigated. We show that the emission in a turbulent medium increases by a factor from 1.2 to 1.4 relative to that in a uniform medium, as the sonic Mach number Ms increases from 2 to 7. Finally, spinning dust parameters are constrained by fitting our improved model to five-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe cross-correlation foreground spectra, for both the Hα-correlated and 100-µm-correlated emission spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spitzer-SDSS-GALEX Spectroscopic Survey (SSGSS) provides a new sample of 101 star-forming galaxies at z < 0.2 with unprecedented multi-wavelength coverage. New mid- to far-infrared spectroscopy from the Spitzer Space Telescope is added to a rich suite of previous imaging and spectroscopy, including ROSAT, Galaxy Evolution Explorer, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Two Micron All Sky Survey, and Spitzer/SWIRE. Sample selection ensures an even coverage of the full range of normal galaxy properties, spanning two orders of magnitude in stellar mass, color, and dust attenuation. In this paper we present the SSGSS data set, describe the science drivers, and detail the sample selection, observations, data reduction, and quality assessment. Also in this paper, we compare the shape of the thermal continuum and the degree of silicate absorption of these typical, star-forming galaxies to those of starburst galaxies. We investigate the link between star formation rate, infrared luminosity, and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon luminosity, with a view to calibrating the latter for spectral energy distribution models in photometric samples and at high redshift. Last, we take advantage of the 5-40 µm spectroscopic and far-infrared photometric coverage of this sample to perform detailed fitting of the Draine et al. dust models', and investigate the link between dust mass and star formation history and active galactic nucleus properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a laboratory study of silicate glasses of astrophysically relevant compositions including olivines, pyroxenes, and melilites. With emphasis on the classic Si--O stretching feature near 10 µm, we compare infrared spectra of our new samples with laboratory spectra on ostensibly similar compositions, and also with synthetic silicate spectral data commonly used in dust modeling. Several different factors affect spectral features including sample chemistry (e.g., polymerization, Mg/Fe ratio, oxidation state, and Al-content) whereas different sample preparation techniques lead to variations in porosity, density, and water content. The convolution of chemical and physical effects makes it difficult to attribute changes in spectral parameters to any given variable. It is important that detailed chemical and structural characterization be provided along with laboratory spectra. In addition to composition and density, we measured the glass transition temperatures for the samples which place upper limits on the formation and/or processing temperatures of these solids in space. Popular synthetically generated optical functions do not have spectral features that match any of our glass samples. However, the ∼ 10 µm feature generated by the synthetic data rarely exactly matches the shape and peak position of astronomically observed silicate features. Our comparison with the synthetic spectra allows astronomers to determine likely candidates among our glass samples for matching astronomical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the uncertainties affecting the temperature profiles of dense cores of interstellar clouds. In regions shielded from external ultraviolet radiation, the problem is reduced to the balance between cosmic ray heating, line cooling, and the coupling between gas and dust. We show that variations in the gas phase abundances, the grain size distribution, and the velocity field can each change the predicted core temperatures by 1 or 2 K. We emphasize the role of non-local radiative transfer effects that often are not taken into account, for example, when modeling the core chemistry. These include the radiative coupling between regions of different temperature and the enhanced line cooling near the cloud surface. The uncertainty of the temperature profiles does not necessarily translate to a significant error in the column density derived from observations. However, depletion processes are very temperature sensitive and a 2 K difference can mean that a given molecule no longer traces the physical conditions in the core center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results on the star formation activity of an optically obscured region containing an embedded cluster (S255-IR) and molecular gas between two evolved H II regions, S255 and S257. We have studied the complex using optical and near-infrared (NIR) imaging, optical spectroscopy, and radio continuum mapping at 15 GHz, along with Spitzer-IRAC results. We found that the main exciting sources of the evolved H II regions S255 and S257 and the compact H II regions associated with S255-IR are of O9.5-B3 V nature, consistent with previous observations. Our NIR observations reveal 109 likely young stellar object (YSO) candidates in an area of ~4'.9 x 4'.9 centered on S255-IR, which include 69 new YSO candidates. To see the global star formation, we constructed the V-I/V diagram for 51 optically identified IRAC YSOs in an area of ~13' x 13' centered on S255-IR. We suggest that these YSOs have an approximate age between 0.1 and 4Myr, indicating a non-coeval star formation. Using spectral energy distribution models, we constrained physical properties and evolutionary status of 31 and 16 YSO candidates outside and inside the gas ridge, respectively. The models suggest that the sources associated with the gas ridge are younger (mean age ~1.2Myr) than the sources outside the gas ridge (mean age ~2.5Myr). The positions of the young sources inside the gas ridge at the interface of the H II regions S255 and S257 favor a site of induced star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In star-forming galaxies, dust plays a significant role in shaping the ultraviolet (UV) through infrared (IR) spectrum. Dust attenuates the radiation from stars, and re-radiates the energy through equilibrium and non-equilibrium emission. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), graphite, and silicates contribute to different features in the spectral energy distribution; however, they are all highly opaque in the same spectral region--the UV. Compared to old stellar populations, young populations release a higher fraction of their total luminosity in the UV, making them a good source of the energetic UV photons that can power dust emission. However, given their relative abundance, the question of whether young or old stellar populations provide most of these photons that power the IR emission is an interesting question. Using three samples of galaxies observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope and our dusty radiative transfer model, we find that young stellar populations (on the order of 100 million years old) dominate the dust heating in star-forming galaxies, and old stellar populations (13 billion years old) generally contribute less than 20% of the far-IR luminosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectra of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3281, obtained with the Thermal-Region Camera Spectrograph at the Gemini-South telescope. The spectra present a very deep silicate absorption at 9.7 µm, and [S IV] 10.5 µm and [Ne II] 12.7 µm ionic lines, but no evidence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission. We find that the nuclear optical extinction is in the range 24 mag ⩽ Av ⩽ 83 mag. A temperature T = 300 K was found for the blackbody dust continuum component of the unresolved 65 pc nucleus and the region at 130 pc SE, while the region at 130 pc NW reveals a colder temperature (200 K). We describe the nuclear spectrum of NGC 3281 using a clumpy torus model that suggests that the nucleus of this galaxy hosts a dusty toroidai structure. According to this model, the ratio between the inner and outer radius of the torus in NGC 3281 is R0/Rd = 20, with 14 clouds in the equatorial radius with optical depth of πv = 40 mag. We would be looking in the direction of the torus equatorial radius (i = 60°), which has outer radius of R0 ~ 11 pc. The column density is NH ≈ 1.2 x 1024cm-2 and the iron Kα equivalent width (≈0.5-1.2 keV) is used to check the toms geometry. Our findings indicate that the X-ray absorbing column density, which classifies NGC 3281 as a Compton-thick source, may also be responsible for the absorption at 9.7µm providing strong evidence that the silicate dust responsible for this absorption can be located in the active galactic nucleus toms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using new far-infrared imaging from the Herschel Space Observatory with ancillary data from ultraviolet (UV) to submillimeter wavelengths, we estimate the total emission from dust and stars of 62 nearby galaxies in the KINGFISH survey in a way that is as empirical and model independent as possible. We collect and exploit these data in order to measure from the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) precisely how much stellar radiation is intercepted and re-radiated by dust, and how this quantity varies with galaxy properties. By including SPIRE data, we are more sensitive to emission from cold dust grains than previous analyses at shorter wavelengths, allowing for more accurate estimates of dust temperatures and masses. The dust/stellar flux ratio, which we measure by integrating the SEDs, has a range of nearly three decades (from 10-22 to 100.5). The inclusion of SPIRE data shows that estimates based on data not reaching these far-IR wavelengths are biased low by 17% on average. We find that the dust/stellar flux ratio varies with morphology and total infrared (IR) luminosity, with dwarf galaxies having faint luminosities, spirals having relatively high dust/stellar ratios and IR luminosities, and some early types having low dust/stellar ratios. We also find that dust/stellar flux ratios are related to gas-phase metallicity (log(fdust/f*) = -0.66 ± 0.08 and -0.22 ± 0.12 for metal-poor and intermediate-metallicity galaxies, respectively), while the dust/stellar mass ratios are less so (differing by ≈0.2 dex); the more metal-rich galaxies span a much wider range of the flux ratios. In addition, the substantial scatter between dust/stellar flux and dust/stellar mass indicates that the former is a poor proxy of the latter. Comparing the dust/stellar flux ratios and dust temperatures, we also show that early types tend to have slightly warmer temperatures (by up to 5 K) than spiral galaxies, which may be due to more intense interstellar radiation fields, or possibly to different dust grain compositions. Finally, we show that early types and early-type spirals have a strong correlation between the dust/stellar flux ratio and specific star formation rate, which suggests that the relatively bright far-IR emission of some of these galaxies is due to ongoing (if limited) star formation as well as to the radiation field from older stars, which is heating the dust grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed study of the X-ray dust scattering halo of the black hole candidate Cygnus X-1 based on two Chandra High Energy Transmission Gratings Spectrometer observations. Using 18 different dust models, including one modified by us (eponymously dubbed XLNW). we probe the interstellar medium between us and this source. A consistent description of the cloud properties along the line of sight (LOS) that describes at the same time the halo radial profile, the halo light curves, and the column density from source spectroscopy is best achieved with a small subset of these models. Combining the studies of the halo radial profile and the halo light curves, we favor a geometric distance to Cygnus X-1 of d = 1.81 ± 0.09 kpc. Our study also shows that there is a dense cloud, which contributes ~50% of the dust grains along the LOS to Cygnus X-1, located at ~1.6 kpc from us. The remainder of the dust along the LOS is close to the black hole binary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present observations of continuum emission in the mid-infrared to millimeter wavelength range, complemented with ammonia observations, of the dense core ahead of the radio Herbig-Haro (HH) object HH 80N. found in the GGD 27 region. The continuum emission in all the observed bands peaks at the same position, consistent with the presence of an embedded object, HH 80N-IRS1, within the core. The distribution of the Very Large Array ammonia emission is well correlated with that of the dust, suggesting that photochemical effects caused by the nearby HH object do not play an important role in shaping this particular molecular emission. In order to unveil the nature of HH 80N-IRS1, we analyzed the continuum data of this source, using self-consistent models of protostellar collapse. We find that a young protostar surrounded by a slowly rotating collapsing envelope of radius ~0.08 pc and 20 M⊙ plus a circumstellar disk of radius ~300 AU and 0.6 A/Q provide a good fit to the observed spectral energy distribution and to the maps at 350 µm, 1.2 mm, and 3.5 mm of HH 80N-IRS1. Besides, the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment and Plateau de Bure Interferometer continuum maps at 350 µm and 3.5 mm. respectively, reveal additional clumps in the continuum emission. Given the modeling results and the observed morphology of the emission, we propose a scenario consisting of a central embedded Class 0 object, HH 80N-IRS1, with the rest of the material of the HH SON core possibly undergoing fragmentation that may lead to the formation of several protostars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary electron emission is believed to play an important role for the dust charging at and close to the lunar surface. However, our knowledge of emission properties of the dust results from model calculations and rather rare laboratory investigations. The present paper reports laboratory measurements of the surface potential on Lunar Highlands Type regolith simulants with sizes between 0.3 and 3 µm in an electron beam with energy below 700 eV. This investigation is focused on a low-energy part, i.e., ➭100 eV. We found that the equilibrium surface potential of this simulant does not depend on the grain size in our ranges of grain dimensions and the beam energies, however, it is a function of the primary electron beam energy. The measurements are confirmed by the results of the simulation model of the secondary emission from the spherical samples. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained in laboratory experiments as well as those inferred from in situ observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) are cold, high mass surface density and high density structures, likely to be representative of the initial conditions for massive star and star cluster formation. CO emission from IRDCs has the potential to be useful for tracing their dynamics, but may be affected by depleted gas phase abundances due to freeze out onto dust grains. Here we analyze C18O J = 1 → 0 and J = 2 → 1 emission line data, taken with the Instituto de Radioastronomia Milimetrica 30 m telescope, of the highly filamentary IRDC G035.39.-0033. We derive the excitation temperature as a function of position and velocity, with typical values of ~7 K, and thus derive total mass surface densities, Sciso. assuming standard gas phase abundances and accounting for optical depth in the line, which can reach values of ~1. The mass surface densities reach values of ~0.07 g cm-2. We compare these results to the mass surface densities derived from mid-infrared extinction mapping, ΣSMF by Butler & Tan, which are expected to be insensitive to the dust temperatures in the cloud. With a significance of ≲10σ, we find ΣC18O/ΣSMF decreases by about a factor of five as Σ increases from ~0.02 to ~0.2 g cm-2, which we interpret as evidence for CO depletion. Several hundred solar masses are being affected, making this one of the most massive clouds in which CO depletion has been observed directly. We present a map of the depletion factor in the filament and discuss implications for the formation of the IRDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]