Far-infrared Colors Research Articles

Mid- and Far-infrared Color–Color Relations within Local Galaxies

Abstract We present an extensive archival analysis of a sample of local galaxies, combining multiwavelength data from GALEX, Spitzer, and Herschel to investigate “blue-side” mid-infrared (MIR) and “red-side” far-infrared (FIR) color–color correlations within the observed infrared spectral energy distributions. Our sample largely consists of the KINGFISH galaxies, with the important addition of a select few including NGC 5236 (M83) and NGC 4449. With data from the far-ultraviolet (∼0.15 μm) through 500 μm convolved to common angular resolution, we measure the photometry of kiloparsec-scale star-forming regions 36″ × 36″ in size. Star formation rates (SFRs), stellar masses, and metallicity distributions are derived throughout our sample. Focusing on the f 70/f 500 “FIR” and f 8/f 24 “MIR” flux density ratios (colors), we find that a subsample of galaxies demonstrate a strong IR color–color correlation within their star-forming regions, while others demonstrate uncorrelated colors. This division is driven by two main effects: (1) the local strength of star formation (SF) and (2) the metal content of the interstellar medium (ISM). Galaxies uniformly dominated by high surface densities of SF (e.g., NGC 5236) demonstrate strong IR color–color correlations, while galaxies that exhibit lower levels of SF and mixed environments (e.g., NGC 5457) demonstrate weaker or no correlation—explained by the increasing effect of varying ISM heating and metal content on the IR colors, specifically in the MIR. We find large dispersion in the SFR–L 8 (8 μm luminosity) relation that is traced by the metallicity distributions, consistent with extant studies, highlighting its problematic use as an SFR indicator across diverse systems/samples.

Probing the spectral shape of dust emission with the DustPedia galaxy sample

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to understand the variance of the far-infrared (FIR) spectral energy distribution (SED) of the DustPedia galaxies, and its link with the stellar and dust properties. An interesting aspect of the dust emission is the inferred FIR colours which could inform us about the dust content of galaxies, and how it varies with the physical conditions within galaxies. However, the inherent complexity of dust grains as well as the variety of physical properties depending on dust, hinder our ability to utilize their maximum potential. We use principal component analysis (PCA) to explore new hidden correlations with many relevant physical properties such as the dust luminosity, dust temperature, dust mass, bolometric luminosity, star formation rate (SFR), stellar mass, specific SFR, dust-to-stellar mass ratio, the fraction of absorbed stellar luminosity by dust (fabs), and metallicity. We find that 95 per cent of the variance in our sample can be described by two principal components (PCs). The first component controls the wavelength of the peak of the SED, while the second characterizes the width. The physical quantities that correlate better with the coefficients of the first two PCs, and thus control the shape of the FIR SED are the dust temperature, the dust luminosity, the SFR, and fabs. Finally, we find a weak tendency for low-metallicity galaxies to have warmer and broader SEDs, while on the other hand high-metallicity galaxies have FIR SEDs that are colder and narrower.

Early science with the Large Millimeter Telescope: a 1.1 mm AzTEC survey of red-Herschel dusty star-forming galaxies

ABSTRACT We present Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT)/AzTEC 1.1 mm observations of ∼100 luminous high-redshift dusty star-forming galaxy candidates from the $\sim 600\,$ sq.deg Herschel-ATLAS survey, selected on the basis of their SPIRE red far-infrared colours and with $S_{500\, \mu \rm m}=35-80$ mJy. With an effective $\theta _{\rm FWHM}\approx 9.5\,$arcsec angular resolution, our observations reveal that at least 9 per cent of the targets break into multiple systems with signal-to-noise ratio ≥4 members. The fraction of multiple systems increases to ∼23 per cent (or more) if some non-detected targets are considered multiples, as suggested by the data. Combining the new AzTEC and deblended Herschel photometry, we derive photometric redshifts, infrared luminosities, and star formation rates. While the median redshifts of the multiple and single systems are similar (zmed ≈ 3.6), the redshift distribution of the latter is skewed towards higher redshifts. Of the AzTEC sources, ∼85 per cent lie at zphot > 3 while ∼33 per cent are at zphot > 4. This corresponds to a lower limit on the space density of ultrared sources at 4 < z < 6 of $\sim 3\times 10^{-7}\, \textrm {Mpc}^{-3}$ with a contribution to the obscured star formation of $\gtrsim 8\times 10^{-4}\, \textrm {M}_\odot \, \textrm {yr}^{-1} \, \textrm {Mpc}^{-3}$. Some of the multiple systems have members with photometric redshifts consistent among them suggesting possible physical associations. Given their angular separations, these systems are most likely galaxy over-densities and/or early-stage pre-coalescence mergers. Finally, we present 3 mm LMT/RSR spectroscopic redshifts of six red-Herschel galaxies at zspec = 3.85−6.03, two of them (at z ∼ 4.7) representing new redshift confirmations. Here, we release the AzTEC and deblended Herschel photometry as well as catalogues of the most promising interacting systems and z > 4 galaxies.

ALMA [N ii] 205 μm Imaging Spectroscopy of the Lensed Submillimeter Galaxy ID 141 at Redshift 4.24

Abstract We present an Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observation of the Submillimeter galaxy ID 141 at z = 4.24 in the [N ii] 205 μm line (hereafter [N ii] ) and the underlying continuum at (rest-frame) 197.6 μm. Benefiting from lensing magnification by a galaxy pair at z = 0.595, ID 141 is one of the brightest SMGs. At the angular resolutions of –1.″5 (1″ ∼6.9 kpc), our observation clearly separates and moderately resolves the two lensed images in both continuum and line emission at a signal-to-noise ratio >5. Our continuum-based lensing model implies an averaged amplification factor of ∼5.8 and reveals that the delensed continuum image has a Sérsic index and Sérsic radius of ∼0.″18 (∼1.24 kpc). Furthermore, the reconstructed [N ii] velocity field in the source plane is dominated by a rotation component with a maximum velocity of ∼300 km s−1 at large radii, indicating a dark matter halo mass of ∼10 . This, together with the reconstructed velocity dispersion field being smooth and modest in value (<100 km s−1) over much of the outer parts of the galaxy, favors the interpretation of ID 141 being a disk galaxy dynamically supported by rotation. The observed [N ii] /CO (7−6) and [N ii] /[C ii] 158 μm line-luminosity ratios, which are consistent with the corresponding line ratio versus far-infrared color correlation from local luminous infrared galaxies, imply a delensed star formation rate of (1.8 yr−1 and provide an independent estimate of the size of the star-forming region kpc in radius.

Infrared colours and spectral energy distributions of hard X-ray selected obscured and Compton-thick active galactic nuclei

ABSTRACT We investigate the infrared colours and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 338 X-ray selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) from the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) 105-month survey catalogue, which have been detected using AKARI, in order to find new selection criteria for Compton-thick AGNs. By combining data from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 14 (DR14), the Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), AKARI and Herschel for the first time, we perform ultraviolet (UV) to far-infrared (FIR) SEDs, fitting 158 Swift/BAT AGNs using cigale and constraining the AGN model parameters of obscured and Compton-thick AGNs. The comparison of average SEDs shows that while the mid-infrared (MIR) SEDs are similar for the three AGN populations, the optical/UV and FIR regions have differences. We measure the dust luminosity, the pure AGN luminosity and the total infrared luminosity. We examine the relationships between the measured infrared luminosities and the hard X-ray luminosity in the 14–195 keV band. We show that the average covering factor of Compton-thick AGNs is higher compared with the obscured and unobscured AGNs. We present new infrared selection criteria for Compton-thick AGNs based on MIR and FIR colours ([9–22 μm] > 3.0 and [22–90 μm] < 2.7) from WISE and AKARI. We find two known Compton-thick AGNs that are not included in the Swift/BAT sample. We conclude that MIR colours covering 9.7-μm silicate absorption and the MIR continuum could be promising new tools to identify Compton-thick AGNs.

Resolved Neutral Carbon Emission in Nearby Galaxies: [C i] Lines as Total Molecular Gas Tracers

Abstract We present maps of atomic carbon [C i]( ) and [C i]( ) emission (hereafter [C i] (1−0) and [C i] (2−1), respectively) at a linear resolution ∼1 kpc scale for a sample of one H ii, six LINER, three Seyfert, and five starburst galaxies observed with the Herschel Space Observatory. We compare spatial distributions of two [C i] lines with that of CO (hereafter CO (1−0)) emission, and find that both [C i] lines distribute similarly to CO (1−0) emission in most galaxies. We present luminosity ratio maps of / , / , (hereafter ) and 70-to-160 μm far-infrared color of f 70/f 160. / , and are centrally peaked in starbursts; whereas they remain relatively constant in LINERs, indicating that star-forming activity can enhance carbon emission, especially for [C i] (2−1). We explore the correlations between the luminosities of CO (1−0) and [C i] lines, and find that correlates tightly and almost linearly with both and , suggesting that [C i] lines, similar to CO (1−0), can trace total molecular gas in H ii, LINER, Seyfert, and starburst galaxies on kpc scales. We investigate the dependence of / , / and [C i] excitation temperature, T ex, on dust temperature, T dust, and find noncorrelation and a weak and modest correlation, respectively. The ratio of / stays a smooth distribution in most galaxies, indicating that the conversion factor of [C i] (1−0) luminosity to H2 mass ( ) changes with CO (1−0) conversion factor ( ) proportionally. Under optically thin and local thermodynamical equilibrium assumptions, we derive a galaxy-wide average carbon excitation temperature of , and an average neutral carbon abundance of in our resolved sample, which is comparable to the usually adopted value of 3 × 10−5, but ∼3 times lower than the carbon abundance in local (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies. We conclude that the carbon abundance varies in different galaxy types.

JINGLE, a JCMT legacy survey of dust and gas for galaxy evolution studies: II. SCUBA-2 850 μm data reduction and dust flux density catalogues

We present the SCUBA-2 850 ${\mu}m$ component of JINGLE, the new JCMT large survey for dust and gas in nearby galaxies, which with 193 galaxies is the largest targeted survey of nearby galaxies at 850 ${\mu}m$. We provide details of our SCUBA-2 data reduction pipeline, optimised for slightly extended sources, and including a calibration model adjusted to match conventions used in other far-infrared data. We measure total integrated fluxes for the entire JINGLE sample in 10 infrared/submillimetre bands, including all WISE, Herschel-PACS, Herschel-SPIRE and SCUBA-2 850 ${\mu}m$ maps, statistically accounting for the contamination by CO(J=3-2) in the 850 ${\mu}m$ band. Of our initial sample of 193 galaxies, 191 are detected at 250 ${\mu}m$ with a $\geq$ 5${\sigma}$ significance. In the SCUBA-2 850 ${\mu}m$ band we detect 126 galaxies with $\geq$ 3${\sigma}$ significance. The distribution of the JINGLE galaxies in far-infrared/sub-millimetre colour-colour plots reveals that the sample is not well fit by single modified-blackbody models that assume a single dust-emissivity index $(\beta)$. Instead, our new 850 ${\mu}m$ data suggest either that a large fraction of our objects require $\beta < 1.5$, or that a model allowing for an excess of sub-mm emission (e.g., a broken dust emissivity law, or a very cold dust component 10 K) is required. We provide relations to convert far-infrared colours to dust temperature and $\beta$ for JINGLE-like galaxies. For JINGLE the FIR colours correlate more strongly with star-formation rate surface-density rather than the stellar surface-density, suggesting heating of dust is greater due to younger rather than older stellar-populations, consistent with the low proportion of early-type galaxies in the sample.

PLCK G165.7+67.0: Analysis of a Massive Lensing Cluster in a Hubble Space Telescope Census of Submillimeter Giant Arcs Selected Using Planck/Herschel

Abstract We present Hubble Space Telescope WFC3-IR imaging in the fields of six apparently bright dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) at z = 2–4 identified by their rest-frame far-infrared colors using the Planck and Herschel space facilities. We detect near-infrared counterparts for all six submillimeter sources, allowing us to undertake strong-lensing analyses. One field in particular stands out for its prominent giant arcs, PLCK G165.7+67.0 (G165). After combining the color and morphological information, we identify 11 sets of image multiplicities in this one field. We construct a strong-lensing model constrained by this lensing evidence, which uncovers a bimodal spatial mass distribution, and from which we measure a mass of (2.6 ± 0.11) × 1014 M ⊙ within ∼250 kpc. The bright (S 350 ≈ 750 mJy) DSFG appears as two images: a giant arc with a spatial extent of that is merging with the critical curve, and a lower-magnification counterimage that is detected in our new longer-wavelength ground- and space-based imaging data. Using our ground-based spectroscopy, we calculate a dynamical mass of M ⊙ to the same fixed radius, although this value may be inflated relative to the true value if the velocity distribution is enhanced in the line-of-sight direction. We suggest that the bimodal mass taken in combination with the weak X-ray flux and low SZ decrement may be explained as a pre-merger for which the intracluster gas is diluted along the line of sight, while the integrated surface mass density is supercritical to strong-lensing effects.

The most distant, luminous, dusty star-forming galaxies: redshifts from NOEMA and ALMA spectral scans

We present 1.3- and/or 3-mm continuum images and 3-mm spectral scans, obtained using NOEMA and ALMA, of 21 distant, dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs). Our sample is a subset of the galaxies selected by Ivison et al. (2016) on the basis of their extremely red far-infrared (far-IR) colours and low {\it Herschel} flux densities; most are thus expected to be unlensed, extraordinarily luminous starbursts at $z \gtrsim 4$, modulo the considerable cross-section to gravitational lensing implied by their redshift. We observed 17 of these galaxies with NOEMA and four with ALMA, scanning through the 3-mm atmospheric window. We have obtained secure redshifts for seven galaxies via detection of multiple CO lines, one of them a lensed system at $z=6.027$ (two others are also found to be lensed); a single emission line was detected in another four galaxies, one of which has been shown elsewhere to lie at $z=4.002$. Where we find no spectroscopic redshifts, the galaxies are generally less luminous by 0.3-0.4 dex, which goes some way to explaining our failure to detect line emission. We show that this sample contains amongst the most luminous known star-forming galaxies. Due to their extreme star-formation activity, these galaxies will consume their molecular gas in $\lesssim 100$ Myr, despite their high molecular gas masses, and are therefore plausible progenitors of the massive, `red-and-dead' elliptical galaxies at $z \approx 3$.

Neutral Carbon Emission in Luminous Infrared Galaxies: The [C i] Lines as Total Molecular Gas Tracers∗

Abstract We present a statistical study of the [C i] (3P1 3P0), [C i] (3P2 3P1) lines (hereafter [C i] (1–0) and [C i] (2–1), respectively) and the CO(1–0) line for a sample of (ultra-)luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs). We explore the correlations between the luminosities of CO(1–0) and [C i] lines, and find that correlates almost linearly with both and , suggesting that [C i] lines can trace total molecular gas mass, at least for (U)LIRGs. We also investigate the dependence of / , / , and / on the far-infrared color of 60-to-100 μm, and find non-correlation, a weak correlation, and a modest correlation, respectively. Under the assumption that these two carbon transitions are optically thin, we further calculate the [C i] line excitation temperatures, atomic carbon masses, and mean [C i] line flux-to-H2 mass conversion factors for our sample. The resulting masses using these [C i]-based conversion factors roughly agree with those derived from and CO-to-H2 conversion factor.

A Herschel Space Observatory Spectral Line Survey of Local Luminous Infrared Galaxies from 194 to 671 Microns∗

Abstract We describe a Herschel Space Observatory 194–671 μm spectroscopic survey of a sample of 121 local luminous infrared galaxies and report the fluxes of the CO J to J–1 rotational transitions for , the [N ii] 205 μm line, the [C i] lines at 609 and 370 μm, as well as additional and usually fainter lines. The CO spectral line energy distributions (SLEDs) presented here are consistent with our earlier work, which was based on a smaller sample, that calls for two distinct molecular gas components in general: (i) a cold component, which emits CO lines primarily at J ≲ 4 and likely represents the same gas phase traced by CO (1−0), and (ii) a warm component, which dominates over the mid-J regime (4 &lt; J ≲ 10) and is intimately related to current star formation. We present evidence that the CO line emission associated with an active galactic nucleus is significant only at J &gt; 10. The flux ratios of the two [C i] lines imply modest excitation temperatures of 15–30 K; the [C i] 370 μm line scales more linearly in flux with CO (4−3) than with CO (7−6). These findings suggest that the [C i] emission is predominantly associated with the gas component defined in (i) above. Our analysis of the stacked spectra in different far-infrared (FIR) color bins reveals an evolution of the SLED of the rotational transitions of vapor as a function of the FIR color in a direction consistent with infrared photon pumping.

THE SPACE DENSITY OF LUMINOUS DUSTY STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT z &gt; 4: SCUBA-2 AND LABOCA IMAGING OF ULTRARED GALAXIES FROM HERSCHEL-ATLAS

ABSTRACT Until recently, only a handful of dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) were known at z &gt; 4, most of them significantly amplified by gravitational lensing. Here, we have increased the number of such DSFGs substantially, selecting galaxies from the uniquely wide 250, 350, and 500 μm Herschel-ATLAS imaging survey on the basis of their extremely red far-infrared colors and faint 350 and 500 μm flux densities, based on which, they are expected to be largely unlensed, luminous, rare, and very distant. The addition of ground-based continuum photometry at longer wavelengths from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment allows us to identify the dust peak in their spectral energy distributions (SEDs), with which we can better constrain their redshifts. We select the SED templates that are best able to determine photometric redshifts using a sample of 69 high-redshift, lensed DSFGs, then perform checks to assess the impact of the CMB on our technique, and to quantify the systematic uncertainty associated with our photometric redshifts, σ = 0.14 (1 + z), using a sample of 25 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts, each consistent with our color selection. For Herschel-selected ultrared galaxies with typical colors of S 500/S 250 ∼ 2.2 and S 500/S 350 ∼ 1.3 and flux densities, S 500 ∼ 50 mJy, we determine a median redshift, , an interquartile redshift range, 3.30–4.27, with a median rest-frame 8–1000 μm luminosity, , of 1.3 × 1013 L ⊙. A third of the galaxies lie at z &gt; 4, suggesting a space density, ρ z &gt; 4, of ≈6 × 10−7 Mpc−3. Our sample contains the most luminous known star-forming galaxies, and the most overdense cluster of starbursting proto-ellipticals found to date.

HERUS: A CO ATLAS FROM SPIRE SPECTROSCOPY OF LOCAL ULIRGs

ABSTRACT We present the Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) atlas for a complete flux-limited sample of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) as part of the HERschel Ultra Luminous InfraRed Galaxy Survey (HERUS). The data reduction is described in detail and was optimized for faint FTS sources ,with particular care being taken for the subtraction of the background, which dominates the continuum shape of the spectra. To improve the final spectra, special treatment in the data reduction has been given to any observation suffering from artifacts in the data caused by anomalous instrumental effects. Complete spectra are shown covering 200–671 μm, with photometry in the SPIRE bands at 250, 350, and 500 μm. The spectra include near complete CO ladders for over half of our sample, as well as fine structure lines from [C i] 370 μm, [C i] 609 μm, and [N ii] 205 μm. We also detect H2O lines in several objects. We construct CO spectral line energy distributions (SLEDs) for the sample, and compare their slopes with the far-infrared (FIR) colors and luminosities. We show that the CO SLEDs of ULIRGs can be broadly grouped into three classes based on their excitation. We find that the mid-J (5 &lt; J &lt; 8) lines are better correlated with the total FIR luminosity, suggesting that the warm gas component is closely linked to recent star formation. The higher J transitions do not linearly correlate with the FIR luminosity, consistent with them originating in hotter, denser gas that is unconnected to the current star formation. We conclude that in most cases more than one temperature component is required to model the CO SLEDs.

The far-infrared emitting region in local galaxies and QSOs: Size and scaling relations

We use Herschel 70 to 160um images to study the size of the far-infrared emitting region in about 400 local galaxies and quasar (QSO) hosts. The sample includes normal `main-sequence' star-forming galaxies, as well as infrared luminous galaxies and Palomar-Green QSOs, with different levels and structures of star formation. Assuming Gaussian spatial distribution of the far-infrared (FIR) emission, the excellent stability of the Herschel point spread function (PSF) enables us to measure sizes well below the PSF width, by subtracting widths in quadrature. We derive scalings of FIR size and surface brightness of local galaxies with FIR luminosity, with distance from the star-forming main-sequence, and with FIR color. Luminosities L_FIR ~ 10^11 L_Sun can be reached with a variety of structures spanning 2 dex in size. Ultraluminous L_FIR >~ 10^12 L_Sun galaxies far above the main-sequence inevitably have small Re_70um ~ 0.5 kpc FIR emitting regions with large surface brightness, and can be close to optically thick in the FIR on average over these regions. Compared to these local relations, first ALMA sizes for the dust emission regions in high redshift galaxies, measured at somewhat longer rest wavelengths, suggest larger sizes at the same IR luminosity. We report a remarkably tight relation with 0.15 dex scatter between FIR surface brightness and the ratio of [CII] 158um emission and FIR emission -- the so-called [CII]-deficit is more tightly linked to surface brightness than to FIR luminosity or FIR color. Among 33 z <~ 0.1 PG QSOs with typical L_FIR/L_Bol,AGN ~ 0.1, 19 have a measured 70um half light radius, with median Re_70um = 1.1kpc. This is consistent with the FIR size for galaxies with similar L_FIR but lacking a QSO, in accordance with a scenario where the rest FIR emission of these types of QSOs is, in most cases, due to host star formation.

THE [N ii] 205 μm EMISSION IN LOCAL LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES*

ABSTRACT In this paper, we present the measurements of the [N ii] 205 μm line for a flux-limited sample of 122 (ultra-)luminous infrared galaxies [(U)LIRGs] and 20 additional normal galaxies, obtained with the Herschel Space Observatory (Herschel). We explore the far-infrared (FIR) color dependence of the [N ii] 205 μm (L [N ii]205 μm) to the total infrared (L IR) luminosity ratio, and find that L [N ii]205 μm/L IR only depends modestly on the 70–160 μm flux density ratio ( f 70 / f 160 ?> ) when f 70 / f 160 &lsim; 0.6 ?> , whereas such dependence becomes much steeper for f 70 / f 160 &gt; 0.6 ?> . We also investigate the relation between L [N ii]205 μm and star formation rate (SFR), and show that L [N ii]205 μm has a nearly linear correlation with SFR, albeit the intercept of such a relation varies somewhat with f 60 / f 100 ?> , consistent with our previous conclusion that [N ii] 205 μm emission can serve as an SFR indicator with an accuracy of ∼0.4 dex, or ∼0.2 dex if f 60 / f 100 ?> is known independently. Furthermore, together with the Infrared Space Observatory measurements of [N ii], we use a total of ∼200 galaxies to derive the local [N ii] 205 μm luminosity function (LF) by tying it to the known IR LF with a bivariate method. As a practical application, we also compute the local SFR volume density ( &rgr; &DiacriticalDot; SFR ?> ) using the newly derived SFR calibrator and LF. The resulting log &rgr; &DiacriticalDot; SFR = &minus; 1.96 &PlusMinus; 0.11 ?> M &CircleDot; ?> yr−1 Mpc−3 agrees well with previous studies. Finally, we determine the electron densities (n e ) of the ionized medium for a subsample of 12 (U)LIRGs with both [N ii] 205 μm and [N ii] 122 μm data, and find that n e is in the range of ∼1–100 cm−3, with a median value of 22 cm−3.

The spatially resolved correlation between [NII] 205μm line emission and the 24μm continuum in nearby galaxies

A correlation between the 24 {\mu}m continuum and the [NII] 205 {\mu}m line emission may arise if both quantities trace the star formation activity on spatially-resolved scales within a galaxy, yet has so far only been observed in the nearby edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891. We therefore assess whether the [NII] 205 - 24 {\mu}m emission correlation has some physical origin or is merely an artefact of line-of-sight projection effects in an edge-on disc. We search for the presence of a correlation in Herschel and Spitzer observations of two nearby face-on galaxies, M51 and M83, and the interacting Antennae galaxies NGC 4038 and 4039. We show that not only is this empirical relationship also observed in face-on galaxies, but also that the correlation appears to be governed by the star formation rate (SFR). Both the nuclear starburst in M83 and the merger-induced star formation in NGC 4038/9 exhibit less [NII] emission per unit SFR surface density than the normal star-forming discs. These regions of intense star formation exhibit stronger ionization parameters, as traced by the 70/160 {\mu}m far-infrared colour, that suggest the presence of higher ionization lines that may become more important for gas cooling, thereby reducing the observed [NII] 205 {\mu}m line emission in regions with higher star formation rates. Finally, we present a general relation between the [NII] 205 {\mu}m line flux density and SFR density for normal star-forming galaxies, yet note that future studies should extend this analysis by including observations with wider spatial coverage for a larger sample of galaxies.

Role of active galactic nuclei in the luminous infrared galaxy phase atz≤ 3

To understand the interactions between active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star formation during the evolution of galaxies, we investigate 142 galaxies detected in both X-ray and 70 μm observations in the COSMOS (Cosmic Evolution Survey) field. All of our data are obtained from the archive X-ray point-source catalogues from Chandra and XMM–Newton observations, and the far-infrared 70 μm point-source catalogue from Spitzer-MIPS observations. Although the IRAC [3.6 μm]–[4.5 μm] versus [5.8 μm]–[8.0 μm] colours of our sample indicate that only ∼63 per cent of our sources would be classified as AGNs, the ratio of the rest-frame 2–10 keV luminosity to the total infrared luminosity (8–1000 μm) shows that the entire sample has comparatively higher X-ray luminosity than that expected from pure star-forming galaxies, suggesting the presence of an AGN in all of our sources. From an analysis of the X-ray hardness ratio, we find that sources with both 70 μm and X-ray detection tend to have a higher hardness ratio relative to the whole X-ray-selected source population, suggesting the presence of more X-ray absorption in the 70 μm detected sources. In addition, we find that the observed far-infrared colours of 70 μm detected sources with and without X-ray emission are similar, suggesting the far-infrared emission could be mainly powered by star formation.

THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY SURVEY OF MOLECULAR GAS IN NEARBY NORMAL SPIRAL GALAXIES I: THE DATA

Using the ARO KP 12 m telescope, we have carried out a CO(1?0) and 13CO(1?0) survey of the central regions of 113 ?normal? spiral galaxies (i.e., unperturbed and with little or no nuclear activity). Our sample spans the whole range of morphological types (T = 1?7), with distances up to 75 Mpc. The detection rates for the observed objects are 99.1% for CO(1?0) and 75.2% for?13CO(1?0), respectively. For three of the targets in our sample (i.e., NGC 0891, NGC 2903, and NGC 3521), we also carry out 13CO(1?0) mapping along their major axes, which, combined with data from the literature, reveal?differences in their molecular gas properties. Analysis of the beam-matched line intensity ratios of CO(1?0)/13CO(1?0) (hereafter ) indicates that?for ?normal? spiral galaxies?the scatter in is of ?x3, and has an average value (including upper limits) of 10.4 ? 0.4 (in contrast with the values of 3?5 in typical giant molecular clouds and 13 ? 6 in Starburst Galaxies). No significant correlations (at the ?2? level) are found between and the total far-infrared (FIR) luminosity, the FIR colors, and the fraction of area sampled in the disk of each galaxy. There is a tentative (1.4? significance) correlation between and morphological type along the Hubble sequence. The observed scatter in can be explained by intrinsic variations among the CO conversion factors. The observations presented in this work, which include the most extensive 13CO(1?0) extragalactic survey published so far on ?normal? spiral galaxies?are ideally suited?for use in recovering the ?missing? flux of interferometers with elements of similar dish sizes.

THE UNIFICATION OF POWERFUL QUASARS AND RADIO GALAXIES AND THEIR RELATION TO OTHER MASSIVE GALAXIES

The unification model for powerful radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars postulates that these objects are intrinsically the same but viewed along different angles. Herschel Space Observatory data permit the assessment of that model in the far-infrared spectral window. We analyze photometry from Spitzer and Herschel for the distant 3CR hosts, and find that radio galaxies and quasars have different mid-infrared, but indistinguishable far-infrared colors. Both these properties, the former being orientation dependent and the latter orientation invariant, are in line with expectations from the unification model. Adding powerful radio-quiet active galaxies and typical massive star-forming galaxies to the analysis, we demonstrate that infrared colors not only provide an orientation indicator, but can also distinguish active from star-forming galaxies.

TheHerschelDwarf Galaxy Survey

The far-infrared (FIR) lines are key tracers of the physical conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM) and are becoming workhorse diagnostics for galaxies throughout the universe. Our goal is to explain the differences and trends observed in the FIR line emission of dwarf galaxies compared to more metal-rich galaxies. We present Herschel PACS spectroscopic observations of the CII157um, OI63 and 145um, OIII88um, NII122 and 205um, and NIII57um fine-structure cooling lines in a sample of 48 low-metallicity star-forming galaxies of the guaranteed time key program Dwarf Galaxy Survey. We correlate PACS line ratios and line-to-LTIR ratios with LTIR, LTIR/LB, metallicity, and FIR color, and interpret the observed trends in terms of ISM conditions and phase filling factors with Cloudy radiative transfer models. We find that the FIR lines together account for up to 3 percent of LTIR and that star-forming regions dominate the overall emission in dwarf galaxies. Compared to metal-rich galaxies, the ratios of OIII/NII122 and NIII/NII122 are high, indicative of hard radiation fields. In the photodissociation region (PDR), the CII/OI63 ratio is slightly higher than in metal-rich galaxies, with a small increase with metallicity, and the OI145/OI63 ratio is generally lower than 0.1, demonstrating that optical depth effects should be small on the scales probed. The OIII/OI63 ratio can be used as an indicator of the ionized gas/PDR filling factor, and is found ~4 times higher in the dwarfs than in metal-rich galaxies. The high CII/LTIR, OI/LTIR, and OIII/LTIR ratios, which decrease with increasing LTIR and LTIR/LB, are interpreted as a combination of moderate FUV fields and low PDR covering factor. Harboring compact phases of low filling factor and a large volume filling factor of diffuse gas, the ISM of low-metallicity dwarf galaxies has a more porous structure than that in metal-rich galaxies.