A milestone toward understanding PDR properties in the extreme environment of LMC-30 Doradus

The PhotoDissociation Region Toolbox provides comprehensive, easy-to-use, public software tools and models that enable an understanding of the interaction of the light of young, luminous, massive stars with the gas and dust in the Milky Way and in other galaxies. It consists of an open-source Python toolkit and photodissociation region (PDR) models for analysis of infrared and millimeter/submillimeter line and continuum observations obtained by ground-based and suborbital telescopes, and astrophysics space missions. PDRs include all of the neutral gas in the interstellar medium where far-ultraviolet photons dominate the chemistry and/or heating. In regions of massive star formation, PDRs are created at the boundaries between the H ii regions and neutral molecular cloud, as photons with energies 6 eV < h ν < 13.6 eV photodissociate molecules and photoionize metals. The gas is heated by photoelectrons from small grains and large molecules and cools mostly through far-infrared (FIR) fine-structure lines like [O i] and [C ii]. The models are created from state-of-the art PDR codes that include molecular freeze-out; recent collision, chemical, and photorates; new chemical pathways, such as oxygen chemistry; and allow for both clumpy and uniform media. The models predict the emergent intensities of many spectral lines and FIR continuum. The tools find the best-fit models to the observations and provide insight into the physical conditions and chemical makeup of the gas and dust. The PDR Toolbox enables novel analysis of data from telescopes such as the Infrared Space Observatory, Spitzer, Herschel, the Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and the JWST.

We present Herschel observations of the far-infrared (FIR) fine-structure (FS) lines [C ii]158 μm, [O i]63 μm, [O iii]52 μm, and [Si ii]35 μm in the z = 2.56 Cloverleaf quasar, and combine them with published data in an analysis of the dense interstellar medium (ISM) in this system. Observed [C ii]158 μm, [O i]63 μm, and FIR continuum flux ratios are reproduced with photodissociation region (PDR) models characterized by moderate far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation fields with 0.3–1 × 103 and atomic gas densities 3–5 × 103 cm−3, depending on contributions to [C ii]158 μm from ionized gas. We assess the contribution to the [C ii]158 μm flux from an active galactic nucleus (AGN) narrow line region (NLR) using ground-based measurements of the [N ii]122 μm transition, finding that the NLR can contribute at most 20%–30% of the observed [C ii]158 μm flux. The PDR density and far-UV radiation fields inferred from the atomic lines are not consistent with the CO emission, indicating that the molecular gas excitation is not solely provided via UV heating from local star formation (SF), but requires an additional heating source. X-ray heating from the AGN is explored, and we find that X-ray-dominated region (XDR) models, in combination with PDR models, can match the CO cooling without overproducing the observed FS line emission. While this XDR/PDR solution is favored given the evidence for both X-rays and SF in the Cloverleaf, we also investigate alternatives for the warm molecular gas, finding that either mechanical heating via low-velocity shocks or an enhanced cosmic-ray ionization rate may also contribute. Finally, we include upper limits on two other measurements attempted in the Herschel program: [C ii]158 μm in FSC 10214 and [O i]63 μm in APM 08279+5255.

Context. JWST has taken the sharpest and most sensitive infrared (IR) spectral imaging observations ever of the Orion Bar photodis-sociation region (PDR), which is part of the nearest massive star-forming region the Orion Nebula, and often considered to be the ‘prototypical’ strongly illuminated PDR. Aims. We investigate the impact of radiative feedback from massive stars on their natal cloud and focus on the transition from the H II region to the atomic PDR – crossing the ionisation front (IF) –, and the subsequent transition to the molecular PDR – crossing the dissociation front (DF). Given the prevalence of PDRs in the interstellar medium and their dominant contribution to IR radiation, understanding the response of the PDR gas to far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons and the associated physical and chemical processes is fundamental to our understanding of star and planet formation and for the interpretation of any unresolved PDR as seen by JWST. Methods. We used high-resolution near-IR integral field spectroscopic data from NIRSpec on JWST to observe the Orion Bar PDR as part of the PDRs4All JWST Early Release Science programme. We constructed a 3″ × 25″’ spatio-spectral mosaic covering 0.97– 5.27 μm at a spectral resolution R of ~2700 and an angular resolution of 0.075″–0.173″. To study the properties of key regions captured in this mosaic, we extracted five template spectra in apertures centred on the three H2 dissociation fronts, the atomic PDR, and the H II region. This wealth of detailed spatial-spectral information was analysed in terms of variations in the physical conditions-incident UV field, density, and temperature – of the PDR gas. Results. The NIRSpec data reveal a forest of lines including, but not limited to, He I, H I , and C I recombination lines; ionic lines (e.g. Fe III and Fe II); O I and N I fluorescence lines; aromatic infrared bands (AIBs, including aromatic CH, aliphatic CH, and their CD counterparts); pure rotational and ro-vibrational lines from H2; and ro-vibrational lines from HD, CO, and CH+, with most of them having been detected for the first time towards a PDR. Their spatial distribution resolves the H and He ionisation structure in the Huygens region, gives insight into the geometry of the Bar, and confirms the large-scale stratification of PDRs. In addition, we observed numerous smaller-scale structures whose typical size decreases with distance from θ1 Ori C and IR lines from C I , if solely arising from radiative recombination and cascade, reveal very high gas temperatures (a few 1000 K) consistent with the hot irradiated surface of small-scale dense clumps inside the PDR. The morphology of the Bar, in particular that of the H2 lines, reveals multiple prominent filaments that exhibit different characteristics. This leaves the impression of a ‘terraced’ transition from the predominantly atomic surface region to the CO-rich molecular zone deeper in. We attribute the different characteristics of the H2 filaments to their varying depth into the PDR and, in some cases, not reaching the C+/C/CO transition. These observations thus reveal what local conditions are required to drive the physical and chemical processes needed to explain the different characteristics of the DFs and the photochemical evolution of the AIB carriers. Conclusions. This study showcases the discovery space created by JWST to further our understanding of the impact radiation from young stars has on their natal molecular cloud and proto-planetary disk, which touches on star and planet formation as well as galaxy evolution.

The sensitive infrared telescopes, Spitzer and Herschel, have been used to target low-metallicity star-forming galaxies, allowing us to investigate the properties of their interstellar medium (ISM) in unprecedented detail. Interpretation of the observations in physical terms relies on careful modeling of those properties. We have employed a multiphase approach to model the ISM phases (H II region and photodissociation region) with the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. Our goal is to characterize the physical conditions (gas densities, radiation fields, etc.) in the ISM of the galaxies from the Herschel Dwarf Galaxy Survey. We are particularly interested in correlations between those physical conditions and metallicity or star-formation activity. Other key issues we have addressed are the contribution of different ISM phases to the total line emission, especially of the [C II]157 μm line, and the characterization of the porosity of the ISM. We find that the lower-metallicity galaxies of our sample tend to have higher ionization parameters and galaxies with higher specific star-formation rates have higher gas densities. The [C II] emission arises mainly from PDRs and the contribution from the ionized gas phases is small, typically less than 30% of the observed emission. We also find a correlation – though with scatter – between metallicity and both the PDR covering factor and the fraction of [C II] from the ionized gas. Overall, the low metal abundances appear to be driving most of the changes in the ISM structure and conditions of these galaxies, and not the high specific star-formation rates. These results demonstrate in a quantitative way the increase of ISM porosity at low metallicity. Such porosity may be typical of galaxies in the young Universe.

Context.Dense highly ionized boundary layers (IBLs) outside of the neutral Photon Dominated Regions (PDRs) have recently been detected via the 122 and 205μm transitions of ionized nitrogen. These layers have higher densities than in the Warm Ionized Medium (WIM) but less than typically found in H IIregions. Observations of [C II] emission, which is produced in both the PDR and IBL, do not fully define the characteristics of these sources. Observations of additional probes which just trace the PDRs, such as the fine structure lines of atomic oxygen, are needed derive their properties and distinguish among different models for [C II] and [N II] emissison.Aims.We derive the properties of the PDRs adjacent to dense highly ionized boundary layers of molecular clouds.Methods.We combine high-spectral resolution observations of the 63μm [O I] fine structure line taken with the upGREATHFA-band instrument on SOFIA with [C II] observations to constrain the physical conditions in the PDRs. The observations consist of samples along four lines of sight (LOS) towards the inner Galaxy containing several dense molecular clouds. We interpret the conditions in the PDRs using radiative transfer models for [C II] and [O I].Results.We have a 3.5-σdetection of [O I] toward one source but only upper limits towards the others. We use the [O I] to [C II] ratio, or their upper limits, and the column density of C+to estimate the thermal pressure,Pth, in these PDRs. In two LOS the thermal pressure is likely in the range 2–5 × 105in units of K cm−3, with kinetic temperatures of order 75–100 K and H2densities,n(H2) ~ 2–4 × 103cm−3. For the other two sources, where the upper limits on [O I] to [C II] are larger,Pth≲105(K cm−3). We have also used PDR models that predict the [O I] to [C II] ratio, along with our observations of this ratio, to limit the intensity of the Far UV radiation field.Conclusions.The [C II] and [N II] emission with either weak, or without any, evidence of [O I] indicates that the source of dense highly ionized gas traced by [N II] most likely arises from the ionized boundary layers of clouds rather than from H IIregions.

We present Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) observations of N159W, an active star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In our observations, a number of far-infrared cooling lines including CO(4-3) to CO(12-11), [CI] 609 and 370 micron, and [NII] 205 micron are clearly detected. With an aim of investigating the physical conditions and excitation processes of molecular gas, we first construct CO spectral line energy distributions (SLEDs) on 10 pc scales by combining the FTS CO transitions with ground-based low-J CO data and analyze the observed CO SLEDs using non-LTE radiative transfer models. We find that the CO-traced molecular gas in N159W is warm (kinetic temperature of 153-754 K) and moderately dense (H2 number density of (1.1-4.5)e3 cm-3). To assess the impact of the energetic processes in the interstellar medium on the physical conditions of the CO-emitting gas, we then compare the observed CO line intensities with the models of photodissociation regions (PDRs) and shocks. We first constrain the properties of PDRs by modelling Herschel observations of [OI] 145, [CII] 158, and [CI] 370 micron fine-structure lines and find that the constrained PDR components emit very weak CO emission. X-rays and cosmic-rays are also found to provide a negligible contribution to the CO emission, essentially ruling out ionizing sources (ultraviolet photons, X-rays, and cosmic-rays) as the dominant heating source for CO in N159W. On the other hand, mechanical heating by low-velocity C-type shocks with ~10 km/s appears sufficient enough to reproduce the observed warm CO.

We present the basic features of a steady state chemical model of Photon Dominated Regions (PDR), where the deuterium chemistry is explicitly introduced. The model is an extension of a previous PDR model (Abgrall et al. [CITE]; Le Bourlot et al. [CITE]; Le Bourlot [CITE]) in which the microscopic processes relative to HD have been incorporated. The J-dependent photodissociation probabilities have been calculated and included in the statistical equilibrium of the rotational levels of HD where the latest collision molecular data are also introduced. The thermal balance is calculated from the equilibrium between the different heating and cooling processes. We introduce a standard model of density = 500 cm-3 embedded in the Interstellar Standard Radiation Field (ISRF) from which we derive the main properties of HD in PDR. The D/HD transition does not depend only on the density, radiation field but also on the chemical processes and especially on the dust formation efficiency. In standard radiation field conditions, the D/HD transition occurs in a narrow range of visual extinctions as long as density is less than 1000 cm-3 and HD is formed through the D+ + H2 reaction. At higher densities a logarithmic dependence of the location of the transition is derived. The model is applied both to ultraviolet absorption observations from the ground rotational state of HD performed in diffuse and translucent clouds and infrared emission detectable at high densities and for high ultraviolet radiation fields coming from the bright surrounding stars.

Context. TheJames WebbSpace Telescope (JWST) has captured the most detailed and sharpest infrared (IR) images ever taken of the inner region of the Orion Nebula, the nearest massive star formation region, and a prototypical highly irradiated dense photo-dissociation region (PDR).Aims. We investigate the fundamental interaction of far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons with molecular clouds. The transitions across the ionization front (IF), dissociation front (DF), and the molecular cloud are studied at high-angular resolution. These transitions are relevant to understanding the effects of radiative feedback from massive stars and the dominant physical and chemical processes that lead to the IR emission that JWST will detect in many Galactic and extragalactic environments.Methods. We utilized NIRCam and MIRI to obtain sub-arcsecond images over ~150″ and 42″ in key gas phase lines (e.g., Paα, Brα, [FeII] 1.64 µm, H21−0 S(1) 2.12 µm, 0–0 S(9) 4.69 µm), aromatic and aliphatic infrared bands (aromatic infrared bands at 3.3–3.4 µm, 7.7, and 11.3 µm), dust emission, and scattered light. Their emission are powerful tracers of the IF and DF, FUV radiation field and density distribution. Using NIRSpec observations the fractional contributions of lines, AIBs, and continuum emission to our NIRCam images were estimated. A very good agreement is found for the distribution and intensity of lines and AIBs between the NIRCam and NIRSpec observations.Results. Due to the proximity of the Orion Nebula and the unprecedented angular resolution of JWST, these data reveal that the molecular cloud borders are hyper structured at small angular scales of ~0.1–1″ (~0.0002–0.002 pc or ~40–400 au at 414 pc). A diverse set of features are observed such as ridges, waves, globules and photoevaporated protoplanetary disks. At the PDR atomic to molecular transition, several bright features are detected that are associated with the highly irradiated surroundings of the dense molecular condensations and embedded young star. Toward the Orion Bar PDR, a highly sculpted interface is detected with sharp edges and density increases near the IF and DF. This was predicted by previous modeling studies, but the fronts were unresolved in most tracers. The spatial distribution of the AIBs reveals that the PDR edge is steep and is followed by an extensive warm atomic layer up to the DF with multiple ridges. A complex, structured, and folded H0/H2DF surface was traced by the H2lines. This dataset was used to revisit the commonly adopted 2D PDR structure of the Orion Bar as our observations show that a 3D “terraced” geometry is required to explain the JWST observations. JWST provides us with a complete view of the PDR, all the way from the PDR edge to the substructured dense region, and this allowed us to determine, in detail, where the emission of the atomic and molecular lines, aromatic bands, and dust originate.Conclusions. This study offers an unprecedented dataset to benchmark and transform PDR physico-chemical and dynamical models for the JWST era. A fundamental step forward in our understanding of the interaction of FUV photons with molecular clouds and the role of FUV irradiation along the star formation sequence is provided.

We report on an analysis of the gas and dust budget in the the interstellar medium (ISM) of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Recent observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope enable us to study the mid-infrared dust excess of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the LMC. This is the first time we can quantitatively assess the gas and dust input from AGB stars over a complete galaxy, fully based on observations. The integrated mass-loss rate over all intermediate and high mass-loss rate carbon-rich AGB candidates in the LMC is 8.5x10^-3 solar mass per year, up to 2.1x10^-2 solar mass per year. This number could be increased up to 2.7x10^-2 solar mass per year, if oxygen-rich stars are included. This is overall consistent with theoretical expectations, considering the star formation rate when these low- and intermediate-mass stars where formed, and the initial mass functions. AGB stars are one of the most important gas sources in the LMC, with supernovae (SNe), which produces about 2-4x10^-2 solar mass per year. At the moment, the star formation rate exceeds the gas feedback from AGB stars and SNe in the LMC, and the current star formation depends on gas already present in the ISM. This suggests that as the gas in the ISM is exhausted, the star formation rate will eventually decline in the LMC, unless gas is supplied externally. Our estimates suggest `a missing dust-mass problem' in the LMC, which is similarly found in high-z galaxies: the accumulated dust mass from AGB stars and possibly SNe over the dust life time (400--800 Myrs) is significant less than the dust mass in the ISM. Another dust source is required, possibly related to star-forming regions.

(abridged)The focus of this work is to study mid-infrared point sources and the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) in the low-metallicity (~0.2 solar) giant HII region N66 using the Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Spectrograph. We study 14 targeted infrared point sources as well as spectra of the diffuse ISM that is representative of both the photodissociation regions (PDRs) and the HII regions. Among the point source spectra, we spectroscopically confirm that the brightest mid-infrared point source is a massive embedded young stellar object, we detect silicates in emission associated with two young stellar clusters, and we observe spectral features of a known B[e] supergiant that are more commonly associated with Herbig Be stars. In the diffuse ISM, we provide additional evidence that the very small grain population is being photodestroyed in the hard radiation field. The 11.3 um PAH complex emission exhibits an unexplained centroid shift in both the point source and ISM spectra that should be investigated at higher signal-to-noise and resolution. Unlike studies of other regions, the 6.2 um and 7.7 um band fluxes are decoupled; the data points cover a large range of I7.7/I11.3 PAH ratio values within a narrow band of I6.2/I11.3 ratio values. Furthermore, there is a spread in PAH ionization, being more neutral in the dense PDR where the radiation field is relatively soft, but ionized in the diffuse ISM/PDR. By contrast, the PAH size distribution appears to be independent of local ionization state. Important to unresolved studies of extragalactic low-metallicity star-forming regions, we find that emission from the infrared-bright point sources accounts for only 20-35% of the PAH emission from the entire region. These results make a comparative dataset to other star-forming regions with similarly hard and strong radiation fields.

The galactic and Extragalactic photodissociation regions are primarily heated by photoelectrons ejected from the surface of interstellar dust grains by Far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons. But there is no direct mechanism to measure the photoelectric heating efficiency. To understand the role of dust grains in processing the Interstellar Radiation Field (ISRF) and heating the gas, we compare the intensities ICII, ICO and IFIR for ( 2 P3/2 → 2 P1/2 )&( J = 1 → 0) line emis- sion of CII & CO at 158 μm & 2.6 mm and integrated far- infrared from number of photodissociation regions, HII re- gions, planetary nebulae, reflection nebulae and high latitude translucent clouds (HLCs). It is found that ICII is linearly cor- related with IFIR. In the cold medium where cloud is exposed to weak radiations temperature is low and most of the cool- ing is due to (CII) emissions. As a result the ratio of ICII/IFIR provide indirect method to evaluate the photoelectric heat- ing efficiency. For the neutral cold medium it is evaluated to be ∼0.028. The FUV radiation field G0 are estimated through the model calculation of ICII and ICO for different galactic and photodissociation regions. The intensity of FIR radiation IFIR are well represented as 1.23 × 10 −4 G0(ergs cm −2 s −1 sr −1 ) almost same as estimated for HLCs by Ingalls et al. (2002). Hydrogen density for each source has also been estimated.

The interstellar medium of galaxies is the reservoir out of which stars are born and into which stars inject newly created elements as they age. The physical properties of the interstellar medium are governed in part by the radiation emitted by these stars. Far-ultraviolet (6 eV less than h(nu) less than 13.6 eV) photons from massive stars dominate the heating and influence the chemistry of the neutral atomic gas and much of the molecular gas in galaxies. Predominantly neutral regions of the interstellar medium in which the heating and chemistry are regulated by far ultraviolet photons are termed Photo-Dissociation Regions (PDRs). These regions are the origin of most of the non-stellar infrared (IR) and the millimeter and submillimeter CO emission from galaxies. The importance of PDRs has become increasingly apparent with advances in IR and submillimeter astronomy. The IR emission from PDRs includes fine structure lines of C, C+, and O; rovibrational lines of H2, rotational lines of CO; broad middle features of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and a luminous underlying IR continuum from interstellar dust. The transition of H to H2 and C+ to CO occurs within PDRs. Comparison of observations with theoretical models of PDRs enables one to determine the density and temperature structure, the elemental abundances, the level of ionization, and the radiation field. PDR models have been applied to interstellar clouds near massive stars, planetary nebulae, red giant outflows, photoevaporating planetary disks around newly formed stars, diffuse clouds, the neutral intercloud medium, and molecular clouds in the interstellar radiation field-in summary, much of the interstellar medium in galaxies. Theoretical PDR models explain the observed correlations of the [CII] 158 microns with the COJ = 1-0 emission, the COJ = 1-0 luminosity with the interstellar molecular mass, and the [CII] 158 microns plus [OI] 63 microns luminosity with the IR continuum luminosity. On a more global scale, MR models predict the existence of two stable neutral phases of the interstellar medium, elucidate the formation and destruction of star-forming molecular clouds, and suggest radiation-induced feedback mechanisms that may regulate star formation rates and the column density of gas through giant molecular clouds.

The 500 central pc of the Galaxy (hereafter GC) exhibit a widespread gas component with a kinetic temperature of 100–200 K. The bulk of this gas is not associated to the well-known thermal radio continuum or far infrared sources like Sgr A or Sgr B. How this gas is heated has been a longstanding problem. With the aim of studying the thermal balance of the neutral gas and dust in the GC, we have observed 18 molecular clouds located at projected distances far from thermal continuum sources with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). In this paper we present observations of several fine structure lines ([Oi] 63 and 146 μm, [Cii] 158 μm, [Si ii] 35 μm, [S i] 25 μm and [Fe ii] 26 μm), which are the main coolants of the gas with kinetic temperatures of several hundred K. We also present the full continuum spectra of the dust between 40 and 190 μm. All the clouds exhibit a cold dust component with a temperature of ~15 K. A warmer dust component is also required to fit the spectra. The temperature of this dust component changes between 27 and 42 K from source to source. We have compared the gas and the dust emission with the predictions from J-type and C-type shocks and photodissociation region (PDRs) models. We conclude that the dust and the fine structure lines observations are best explained by a PDR with a density of 103 cm-3 and an incident far-ultraviolet field 103 times higher than the local interstellar radiation field. The fine structure line emission arises in PDRs in the interface between a diffuse ionized gas component and the dense molecular clouds. The [Cii] 158 μm and [Si ii] 35 μm lines also have an important contribution from the ionized gas component. PDRs can naturally explain the discrepancy between the gas and the dust temperatures. However, these PDRs can only account for 10–30% of the total H2 column density with a temperature of ~150 K. We discuss other possible heating mechanisms for the rest the warm molecular gas, such as non-stationary PDRs, X-ray Dominated Regions (XDRs) or the dissipation of supersonic turbulence.

We report maps of the 158 microns [C II] fine-structure line, the 63 microns and 146 microns [O I] fine-structure lines, the 2.2 microns H I Brγ line, the 2.1 microns H<SUB>2</SUB> 1-0 S(1) ro-vibrational line, and the 2.6 mm CO (1-0) rotational line toward the 30 Doradus complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud. <P />Comparing our Brγ map with Hα and Hβ measurements, we find that visual to near-infrared extinction and reddening follow the standard dust extinction law and that the Brγ extinction is small, which allows for a reliable determination of the Lyman-continuum intensity. The Lyman continuum as derived from the Brγ emission and the far-UV derived from the far-infrared continuum match the average spectrum of the exciting stars in the 30 Doradus cluster. The observed H_{2 }line intensity may be produced in dense clumps exposed to the stellar radiation fields. <P />The maps of all tracers emphasize a shell-like structure of the 30 Doradus region, which is seen approximately edge-on. The warm molecular gas traced by the H<SUB>2</SUB> line and the ionized gas traced by the Brγ line are intermixed, while the cold molecular gas as traced by CO (1-0) and the photodissociated gas as traced by [C ii] are coextensive over tens of parsecs. This distribution can be explained only by a highly fragmented structure of the interstellar medium that allows UV radiation to penetrate deep into the molecular cloud. Clumpiness is also the key to understanding the extremely high [C II]/CO line intensity ratio. Depending on cloud geometry and physical conditions, the relative beam-filling factors of the partly atomic, partly molecular photodissociated gas as seen in the FIR tracers, and of the purely molecular gas traced by CO, can differ substantially in a clumpy, low-metallicity environment. This effect also leads to a greatly increased H<SUB>2</SUB>/CO conversion factor because a major part of the H<SUB>2</SUB> molecular gas may be contained in the photodissociation region where CO has been destroyed.

We present Mid (MIR) and Far (FIR) Infrared observations of 18 spiral/irregular galaxies belonging to the Coma and A1367 clusters, carried out with the CAM and PHOT instruments on board the ISO satellite. Complementary photometry from the UV to the Near Infrared (NIR) together with Hα imaging, HI and ^(12)CO line measurements allow us to study the relationships between the IR emission and the star formation properties of these galaxies. Most of the resolved galaxies show extended MIR emission throughout their disks even where no Hα emission is present. This suggests that the Aromatic carriers can be excited by the general interstellar radiation field (ISRF), i.e. by visible photons. Only close to HII regions the UV photons are the principal sources of Aromatic carrier excitation. However, when the UV radiation field becomes intense enough these carriers can be destroyed. The average integrated 15/6.75µ_m ratio of the observed galaxies is ∼1, i.e. the typical value for the photodissociation regions (PDRs). This suggests that, despite the high star formation rate (SFR) and the very luminous HII regions of these galaxies, their integrated MIR emission is dominated by PDR-like regions rather than HII-like regions. A cold dust component with average temperature ∼22 K exists in most of the target galaxies, probably arising from big dust grains (BGs) in thermal equilibrium with the ISRF. The contribution to the BGs heating from the ionizing stars decreases with increasing wavelength. A warmer dust component whose emission dominates the spectrum between 20 and 100µ_m is likely to exist. This is probably due to both Very Small Grains (VSGs) and warm BGs emission. The dust to gas ratio of the target galaxies is comparable to that of the solar neighborhood. There is a weak trend between the dust total mass and both the atomic and molecular gas content. The MIR and FIR properties of the analyzed galaxies do not seem to be affected by the environment despite the fact that most of the targets are interacting with the Intra-Cluster-Medium.