Probing the Baryon cycle of galaxies with SPICA mid- and far-infrared observations
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The SPICA mid- and far-infrared telescope will address fundamental issues in our understanding of star formation and ISM physics in galaxies. A particular hallmark of SPICA is the outstanding sensitivity enabled by the cold telescope, optimised detectors, and wide instantaneous bandwidth throughout the mid- and far-infrared. The spectroscopic, imaging, and polarimetric observations that SPICA will be able to collect will help in clarifying the complex physical mechanisms which underlie the baryon cycle of galaxies. In particular, (i) the access to a large suite of atomic and ionic fine-structure lines for large samples of galaxies will shed light on the origin of the observed spread in star-formation rates within and between galaxies, (ii) observations of HD rotational lines (out to ~10 Mpc) and fine structure lines such as [C ii] 158 μm (out to ~100 Mpc) will clarify the main reservoirs of interstellar matter in galaxies, including phases where CO does not emit, (iii) far-infrared spectroscopy of dust and ice features will address uncertainties in the mass and composition of dust in galaxies, and the contributions of supernovae to the interstellar dust budget will be quantified by photometry and monitoring of supernova remnants in nearby galaxies, (iv) observations of far-infrared cooling lines such as [O i] 63 μm from star-forming molecular clouds in our Galaxy will evaluate the importance of shocks to dissipate turbulent energy. The paper concludes with requirements for the telescope and instruments, and recommendations for the observing strategy.
Date Issued
2018-01-18
Date Acceptance
2017-11-29
Citation
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 2018, 35
ISSN
1323-3580
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Journal / Book Title
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Volume
35
Copyright Statement
© 2018 Astronomical Society of Australia; published by Cambridge University Press. This paper has been accepted for publication and will appear in a revised form, subsequent to peer-review and/or editorial input by Cambridge University Press.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000422880200001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
galaxies: ISM
galaxies: star formation
ISM: dust, extinction
infrared: galaxies
techniques: spectroscopic
STAR-FORMING GALAXIES
CO-TO-H-2 CONVERSION FACTOR
DIFFUSE INTERSTELLAR-MEDIUM
GIANT BRANCH STARS
SPECTRAL ENERGY-DISTRIBUTIONS
LOW-METALLICITY GALAXIES
SPITZER-SPACE-TELESCOPE
H-II REGIONS
NEARBY GALAXIES
C-II
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e002
Date Publish Online
2018-01-18