Multiband Imaging Photometer Research Articles

AMUSE‐Virgo. I. Supermassive Black Holes in Low‐Mass Spheroids

We present the first results from the AGN Multiwavelength Survey of Early-Type Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster (AMUSE-Virgo). This large program targets 100 early-type galaxies with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer on board the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Multiband Imaging Photometer on board the Spitzer Space Telescope, with the aim of providing an unbiased census of low-level supermassive black hole activity in the local universe. Here we report on the Chandra observations of the first 16 targets, and combine them with results from archival data of another, typically more massive, 16 targets. Pointlike X-ray emission from a position coincident with the optical nucleus is detected in 50% of the galaxies (down to our completeness limit of ~4 × 1038 ergs s−1). Two of the X-ray nuclei are hosted by galaxies (VCC 1178 [N4464] and VCC 1297 [N4486B]) with absolute B magnitudes fainter than –18, where nuclear star clusters are known to become increasingly common. After carefully accounting for possible contamination from low-mass X-ray binaries, we argue that the detected nuclear X-ray sources are most likely powered by low-level accretion on to a supermassive black hole, with a 11% chance contamination in VCC 1178, where a star cluster is barely resolvable in archival Hubble Space Telescope images. Based on black hole mass estimates from the global properties of the host galaxies, all the detected nuclei are highly sub-Eddington, with luminosities in the range –8.4 < log (L0.3–10 keV/LEdd) < − 5.9. The incidence of nuclear X-ray activity increases with the stellar mass M of the host galaxy: only between 3% and 44% of the galaxies with M < 1010 M☉ harbor an X-ray active supermassive black hole. The fraction rises to between 49% and 87% in galaxies with stellar mass above 1010 M☉ (at the 95% confidence level).

ABSOLUTE PHYSICAL CALIBRATION IN THE INFRARED

We determine an absolute calibration for the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer 24 μm band and recommend adjustments to the published calibrations for Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC), and IRAS photometry to put them on the same scale. We show that consistent results are obtained by basing the calibration on either an average A0V star spectral energy distribution (SED), or by using the absolutely calibrated SED of the Sun in comparison with solar-type stellar photometry (the solar analog method). After the rejection of a small number of stars with anomalous SEDs (or bad measurements), upper limits of ~1.5% root mean square (rms) are placed on the intrinsic infrared (IR) SED variations in both A-dwarf and solar-type stars. These types of stars are therefore suitable as general-purpose standard stars in the IR. We provide absolutely calibrated SEDs for a standard zero magnitude A star and for the Sun to allow extending this work to any other IR photometric system. They allow the recommended calibration to be applied from 1 to 25 μm with an accuracy of ~2%, and with even higher accuracy at specific wavelengths such as 2.2, 10.6, and 24 μm, near which there are direct measurements. However, we confirm earlier indications that Vega does not behave as a typical A0V star between the visible and the IR, making it problematic as the defining star for photometric systems. The integration of measurements of the Sun with those of solar-type stars also provides an accurate estimate of the solar SED from 1 through 30 μm, which we show agrees with theoretical models.

Spitzer‐MIPS Observations of the η Chamaeleontis Young Association

We have mapped the η Chamaeleontis young stellar association in the far-infrared with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. All 16 members within the map region were detected at 24 μm, along with five members at 70 μm and two at 160 μm. Ten stars show far-infrared excess emission indicating the presence of circumstellar disks; six of these have central clearings as evidenced by the onset of excess emission at λ > 5 μm. No new infrared-excess sources are identified among the 113 2MASS field stars with 24 μm photometry but not seen as X-ray sources, indicating that membership lists derived from X-ray surveys are reasonably complete. Circumstellar disks in the η Cha association span the range from 10^(−1) to 10^(−4) in their fractional infrared luminosity, with a median L_d/L_* of 0.04. The presence of optically thick, optically thin, and intermediate optical depth disks within the same stellar group, in combination with the large fraction of disks with inner holes, indicates that the η Cha association represents a crucial stage in circumstellar disk evolution.

The Disk Population of the Chamaeleon I Star‐forming Region

We present a census of circumstellar disks in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. Using the Infrared Array Camera and the Multiband Imaging Photometer onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have obtained images of Chamaeleon I at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0, and 24 um. To search for new disk-bearing members of the cluster, we have performed spectroscopy on objects that have red colors in these data. Through this work, we have discovered four new members of Chamaeleon I with spectral types of M4, M6, M7.5, and L0. The first three objects are highly embedded (A_J~5) and reside near known protostars, indicating that they may be among the youngest low-mass sources in the cluster ( 1 M_sun is significantly higher in Chamaeleon I than in IC 348 (65% vs. 20%), indicating longer disk lifetimes in Chamaeleon I for this mass range. Thus, low-density star-forming regions like Chamaeleon I may offer more time for planet formation around solar-type stars than denser clusters.

A Spitzer survey of young stellar objects in the Rosette Molecular Cloud

We present results from a survey of the Rosette Molecular Cloud (RMC) using both the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. We have mapped a region of active star formation covering an area approximately 1 ◦ by 1.5 ◦ including several previously known clusters. Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) fitted to our data combined with that from Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) are used to identify young stellar objects (YSOs) with infrared (IR) excesses. We find that roughly 50 per cent of the sources are forming in clustered environments and identify seven clusters of IR excess sources including four that were previously unknown. We investigate evidence for triggering of star formation due to the ionization front, identified in Brackett-α emission, associated with the young open cluster NGC 2244. Although the position of several of the clusters of IR excess sources are coincident with the ionization front, the bulk of the youngest YSOs are located far from the ionization front, in clusters located along the mid-plane of the cloud. We conclude that although triggering from the H II nebula is a possible origin for some of the recent star formation, the majority of the active star formation is occurring in already dense regions of the cloud not compressed by the expansion of the H II region.

Absolute Calibration and Characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. IV. The Spectral Energy Distribution Mode

ABSTRACTThe spectral energy distribution (SED) mode of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope provides low-spectral resolution (R ≈ 15–25) spectroscopy in the far-infrared using the MIPS 70 μm detector. A reflective grating provides a dispersion of 1.7 μm per pixel, and an effective wavelength coverage of 52.8–98.7 μm over detector rows 1–27. The final 5 detector rows are contaminated by second-order diffracted light and are left uncalibrated. The flux calibration is based on observations of MIPS calibration stars with 70 μm flux densities of 0.5–15 Jy. The point-source flux calibration accuracy is estimated to be 10% or better down to about 0.5 Jy at the blue end of the spectrum and to ∼2 Jy near the red end. With additional uncertainties from the illumination and aperture corrections included, the surface brightness calibration of extended sources is accurate to ∼15%. Repeatability of better than 5% is found for the SED mode through multiple measurements of several calibration stars.

SCUBA and Spitzer observations of the Taurus molecular cloud - pulling the bull's tail

We present continuum data from the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), and the multiband imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope, at submillimetre and infrared wavelengths, respectively. We study the Taurus molecular cloud 1 (TMC1) and, in particular, the region of the Taurus Molecular Ring (TMR). In the continuum data, we see no real evidence for a ring, but rather we see one side of it only, appearing as a filament. We name the filament ‘the bull’s tail’. The filament is seen in emission at 850, 450 and 160 μm, and in absorption at 70 μm.We compare the data with archive data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) at 12, 25, 60, 100 μm, in which the filament is also seen in absorption. We find that the emission from the filament consists of two components: a narrow, cold (∼8 K), central core, and a broader, slightly warmer (∼12 K), shoulder of emission. We use a radiative transfer code to model the filament’s appearance, either in emission or absorption, simultaneously at each of the different wavelengths. Our best-fitting model uses a Plummer-like density profile and a homogeneous interstellar dust grain population. Unlike previous work on a similar, but different filament in Taurus, we require no grain coagulation to explain our data.

TheSpitzerc2d Survey of Large, Nearby, Interstellar Clouds. VII. Ophiuchus Observed with MIPS

We present maps of 14.4 deg^2 of the Ophiuchus dark clouds observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). These high quality maps depict both numerous point sources as well as extended dust emission within the star-forming and non-star-forming portions of these clouds. Using PSF-fitting photometry, we detect 5779 sources at 24 um and 81 sources at 70 um at the 10 sigma level of significance. Three hundred twenty-three candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) were identified according to their positions on the MIPS/2MASS K versus K$-$[24] color-magnitude diagrams as compared to 24 um detections in the SWIRE extragalactic survey. We find that more than half of the YSO candidates, and almost all the ones with protostellar Class I spectral energy distributions, are confined to the known cluster and aggregates.

Modeling the Infrared Bow Shock at δ Velorum: Implications for Studies of Debris Disks and λ Bootis Stars

We have discovered a bow shock shaped mid-infrared excess region in front of δ Velorum using 24 μm observations obtained with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). Although the bow shock morphology was only detected in the 24 μm observations, its excess was also resolved at 70 μm. We show that the stellar heating of an ambient interstellar medium (ISM) cloud can produce the measured flux. Since δ Velorum was classified as a debris disk star previously, our discovery may call into question the same classification of other stars. We model the interaction of the star and ISM, producing images that show the same geometry and surface brightness as is observed. The modeled ISM is ~15 times overdense relative to the average Local Bubble value, which is surprising considering the close proximity (24 pc) of δ Velorum. The abundance anomalies of λ Bootis stars have been previously explained as arising from the same type of interaction of stars with the ISM. Low-resolution optical spectra of δ Velorum show that it does not belong to this stellar class. The star therefore is an interesting testbed for the ISM accretion theory of the λ Bootis phenomenon.

Debris Disks around Nearby Stars with Circumstellar Gas

We conducted a survey for infrared excess emission from 16 nearby main sequence shell stars using the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Shell stars are early-type stars with narrow absorption lines in their spectra that appear to arise from circumstellar (CS) gas. Four of the 16 stars in our survey showed excess emission at 24 microns and 70 microns characteristic of cool CS dust and are likely to be edge-on debris disks. Including previously known disks, it appears that the fraction of protoplanetary and debris disks among the main sequence shell stars is at least 48% +/- 14%. While dust in debris disks has been extensively studied, relatively little is known about their gas content. In the case of Beta Pictoris, extensive observations of gaseous species have provided insights into the dynamics of the CS material and surprises about the composition of the CS gas coming from young planetesimals (e.g. Roberge et al. 2006). To understand the co-evolution of gas and dust through the terrestrial planet formation phase, we need to study the gas in additional debris disks. The new debris disk candidates from this Spitzer survey double the number of systems in which the gas can be observed right now with sensitive line of sight absorption spectroscopy.

Direct Evidence from Spitzer for a Low-Luminosity AGN at the Center of the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 315

We present Spitzer Space Telescope InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 315. After removal of the host galaxy’s stellar emission, we detected for the first time an infrared-red nucleus in NGC 315. We measured the spectral energy distribution (SED) for this active nucleus with a wavelength range from radio to X-ray, and obtained a bolometric luminosity of Lbol ≈ 1.9 x 10^43 ergs s^(-1), corresponding to an extremely low Eddington ratio L/L_(Edd) of 4.97 x 10^(-4). Our results confirm that the physical nature of the nucleus of NGC 315 is a low-luminosity AGN, consistent with recent optical and Chandra X-ray observations.

Power spectrum analysis of far-IR background fluctuations in 160 $\mu{\rm m}$ maps from the multiband imaging photometer for Spitzer

We describe data reduction and analysis of fluctuations in the cosmic far-IR background (CFIB) in observations with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) instrument 160 µm detectors. We analyzed observations of an 8.5 square degree region in the Lockman Hole, part of the largest low-cirrus mapping observation with this instrument. We measured the power spectrum of the CFIB in these observations by fitting a power law to the IR cirrus component, the dominant foreground contaminant, and subtracting this cirrus signal. The CFIB power spectrum in the range 0. 2a rcmin −1 < k < 0. 5a rcmin −1 is consistent with previous measurements of a relatively flat component. However, we find a large power excess at low k, which falls steeply to the flat component in the range 0.03 arcmin −1 < k < 0. 1a rcmin −1 .T his low-k power spectrum excess is consistent with predictions of a source clustering “signature”. This is the first report of such a detection in the far-IR.

TheSpitzerc2d Survey of Large, Nearby, Interstellar Clouds. IV. Lupus Observed with MIPS

We present maps of 7.78 deg2 of the Lupus molecular cloud complex at 24, 70, and 160 μm. They were made with the Spitzer Space Telescope Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) instrument as part of the Spitzer Legacy Program "From Molecular Cores to Planet-Forming Disks" (c2d). The maps cover three separate regions in Lupus, denoted I, III, and IV. We discuss the c2d pipeline and how our data processing differs from it. We compare source counts in the three regions with two other data sets and predicted star counts from the Wainscoat model. This comparison shows the contribution from background galaxies in Lupus I. We also create two color-magnitude diagrams using the 2MASS and MIPS data. From these results, we can identify background galaxies and distinguish them from probable young stellar objects. The sources in our catalogs are classified based on their spectral energy distribution (SED) from 2MASS and Spitzer wavelengths to create a sample of young stellar object candidates. From 2MASS data, we create extinction maps for each region and note a strong correspondence between the extinction and the 160 μm emission. The masses we derived in each Lupus cloud from our extinction maps are compared to masses estimated from 13CO and C18 O and found to be similar to our extinction masses in some regions, but significantly different in others. Finally, based on our color-magnitude diagrams, we selected 12 of our reddest candidate young stellar objects for individual discussion. Five of the 12 appear to be newly discovered YSOs.

Absolute Calibration and Characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. I. The Stellar Calibrator Sample and the 24 μm Calibration

ABSTRACTWe present the stellar calibrator sample and the conversion from instrumental to physical units for the 24 μm channel of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). The primary calibrators are A stars, and the calibration factor based on those stars is 4.54 × 10-2 MJy sr−1 (DN s−1)−1, with a nominal uncertainty of 2%. We discuss the data reduction procedures required to attain this accuracy; without these procedures, the calibration factor obtained using the automated pipeline at the Spitzer Science Center is 1.6% ± 0.6% lower. We extend this work to predict 24 μm flux densities for a sample of 238 stars that covers a larger range of flux densities and spectral types. We present a total of 348 measurements of 141 stars at 24 μm. This sample covers a factor of ∼460 in 24 μm flux density, from 8.6 mJy up to 4.0 Jy. We show that the calibration is linear over that range with respect to target flux and background level. The calibration is based on observations made using 3 s exposures; a preliminary analysis shows that the calibration factor may be 1% and 2% lower for 10 and 30 s exposures, respectively. We also demonstrate that the calibration is very stable: over the course of the mission, repeated measurements of our routine calibrator, HD 159330, show a rms scatter of only 0.4%. Finally, we show that the point‐spread function (PSF) is well measured and allows us to calibrate extended sources accurately; Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) and MIPS measurements of a sample of nearby galaxies are identical within the uncertainties.

Absolute Calibration and Characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. III. An Asteroid‐based Calibration of MIPS at 160 μm

ABSTRACTWe describe the absolute calibration of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) 160 μm channel. After the on‐orbit discovery of a near‐IR ghost image that dominates the signal for sources hotter than about 2000 K, we adopted a strategy utilizing asteroids to transfer the absolute calibrations of the MIPS 24 and 70 μm channels to the 160 μm channel. Near‐simultaneous observations at all three wavelengths are taken, and photometry at the two shorter wavelengths is fit using the standard thermal model. The 160 μm flux density is predicted from those fits and compared with the observed 160 μm signal to derive the conversion from instrumental units to surface brightness. The calibration factor we derive is 41.7 MJy sr−1 MIPS160−1 (MIPS160 being the instrumental units). The scatter in the individual measurements of the calibration factor, as well as an assessment of the external uncertainties inherent in the calibration, lead us to adopt an uncertainty of 5.0 MJy sr−1 MIPS160−1 (12%) for the absolute uncertainty on the 160 μm flux density of a particular source as determined from a single measurement. For sources brighter than about 2 Jy, nonlinearity in the response of the 160 μm detectors produces an underestimate of the flux density: for objects as bright as 4 Jy, measured flux densities are likely to be ≃20% too low. This calibration has been checked against that of the ISO (using ULIRGs) and IRAS (using IRAS‐derived diameters), and is consistent with those at the 5% level.

Absolute Calibration and Characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. II. 70 μm Imaging

ABSTRACTThe absolute calibration and characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) 70 μm coarse‐ and fine‐scale imaging modes are presented based on over 2.5 yr of observations. Accurate photometry (especially for faint sources) requires two simple processing steps beyond the standard data reduction to remove long‐term detector transients. Point‐spread function (PSF) fitting photometry is found to give more accurate flux densities than aperture photometry. Based on the PSF fitting photometry, the calibration factor shows no strong trend with flux density, background, spectral type, exposure time, or time since anneals. The coarse‐scale calibration sample includes observations of stars with flux densities from 22 mJy to 17 Jy, on backgrounds from 4 to 26 MJy sr−1, and with spectral types from B to M. The coarse‐scale calibration is 702 ± 35 MJy sr−1 MIPS70−1 (5% uncertainty) and is based on measurements of 66 stars. The instrumental units of the MIPS 70 μm coarse‐ and fine‐scale imaging modes are called MIPS70 and MIPS70F, respectively. The photometric repeatability is calculated to be 4.5% from two stars measured during every MIPS campaign and includes variations on all timescales probed. The preliminary fine‐scale calibration factor is 2894 ± 294 MJy sr−1 MIPS70F−1 (10% uncertainty) based on 10 stars. The uncertainties in the coarse‐ and fine‐scale calibration factors are dominated by the 4.5% photometric repeatability and the small sample size, respectively. The 5 σ, 500 s sensitivity of the coarse‐scale observations is 6–8 mJy. This work shows that the MIPS 70 μm array produces accurate, well‐calibrated photometry and validates the MIPS 70 μm operating strategy, especially the use of frequent stimulator flashes to track the changing responsivities of the Ge:Ga detectors.

SpitzerMid‐Infrared Upper Limits on Anomalous X‐Ray Pulsars 1E 1048.1−5937, 1RXS J170849.0−400910, and XTE J1810−197

We report on mid-infrared imaging observations of the anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) 1E 1048.1-5937, 1RXS J170849-400910, and XTE J1810-197. The observations were carried out at 4.5 and 8.0 microns with the Infrared Array Camera and at 24 microns with the Multiband Imaging Photometer on the Spitzer Space Telescope. No mid-infrared counterparts were detected. As infrared emission from AXPs may be related to their X-ray emission either via the magnetosphere or via a dust disk, we compare the derived upper limits on the infrared/X-ray flux ratios of the AXPs to the same ratio for 4U 0142+61, an AXP previously detected in the mid-infrared range. The comparison indicates that our three non-detections are consistent with their relatively low X-ray fluxes. For XTE J1810-197, our upper limits set a constraint on its rising radio/millimeter energy spectrum, suggesting a spectral break between 1.5$\times 10^{11}$--6$\times10^{13}$ Hz.

The Spitzer c2d Survey of Large, Nearby, Interstellar Clouds. VI. Perseus Observed with MIPS

We present observations of 10.6 square degrees of the Perseus molecular cloud at 24, 70, and 160 microns with the Spitzer Space Telescope Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). The image mosaics show prominent, complex extended emission dominated by illuminating B stars on the East side of the cloud, and by cold filaments of 160 micron emission on the West side. Of 3950 point sources identified at 24 microns, 1141 have 2MASS counterparts. A quarter of these populate regions of the Ks vs. Ks-[24] diagram that are distinct from stellar photospheres and background galaxies, and thus are likely to be cloud members with infrared excess. Nearly half (46%) of these 24 micron excess sources are distributed outside the IC 348 and NGC 1333 clusters. NGC 1333 shows the highest fraction of stars with flat or rising spectral energy distributions (28%), while Class II SEDs are most common in IC 348. These results are consistent with previous relative age determinations for the two clusters. The intercluster region contains several tightly clumped (r~0.1 pc) young stellar aggregates whose members exhibit a wide variety of infrared spectral energy distributions characteristic of different circumstellar environments. One possible explanation is a significant age spread among the aggregate members, such that some have had time to evolve more than others. Alternatively, if the aggregate members all formed at roughly the same time, then remarkably rapid circumstellar evolution would be required to account for the association of Class I and Class III sources at ages <~1 Myr. We highlight important results for several other objects as well (full abstract in the paper).

Erratum: “Shock Processing of Interstellar Dust and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Supernova Remnant N132D” (ApJ, 653, 267 [2006

We observed the oxygen-rich Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) supernova remnant N132D (SNR 0525-69.6), using all instruments onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, IRS, IRAC, and MIPS (Infrared Spectrograph, Infrared Array Camera, Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer). The 5-40 micron IRS spectra toward the southeastern shell of the remnant show a steeply rising continuum with [NeIII] and [OIV] as well as PAH emission. We also present the spectrum of a fast moving ejecta knot, previously detected at optical wavelengths, which is dominated by strong [NeIII] and [OIV] emission lines. We interpret the continuum as thermal emission from swept-up, shock-heated dust grains in the expanding shell of N132D, which is clearly visible in the MIPS 24 micron image. A 15-20 micron emission hump appears superposed on the dust continuum, and we attribute this to PAH C-C-C bending modes. We also detect the well-known 11.3 micron PAH C-H bending feature, and find the integrated strength of the 15-20 micron hump about a factor of seven stronger than the 11.3 micron band in the shell of the remnant. IRAC 3-9 micron images do not show clear evidence of large-scale, shell-like emission from the remnant, partly due to confusion with the ambient ISM material. However, we identified several knots of shocked interstellar gas based on their distinct infrared colors. We discuss the bright infrared continuum and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features with respect to dust processing in young supernova remnants.

AEGIS: Infrared Spectral Energy Distributions of MIPS 70 μm-selected Sources

We present 0.5-160 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies, detected at 70 μm with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS), using broadband imaging data from Spitzer and ground-based telescopes. Spectroscopic redshifts, in the range 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.5, have been measured as part of the Deep Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe 2 (DEEP2) project. On the basis of the SEDs, we explore the nature and physical properties of the sources. Using the optical spectra, we derive Hβ and [O II]-based star formation rates (SFRs) that are 10-100 times lower than SFR estimates based on IR and radio. The median offset in SFR between optical and IR is reduced by a factor of ~3 when we apply a typical extinction correction. We investigate mid- to far-infrared correlations for low-redshift (>0.5) and high-redshift (0.5 < z < 1.2) bins. Using this unique far-infrared-selected sample, we derive an empirical mid- to far-infrared relationship that can be used to estimate the infrared energy budget of galaxies in the high-redshift universe. Our sample can be used as a template to translate far-infrared luminosities into bolometric luminosities for high-redshift objects.