STAR FORMATION AND THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM IN NEARBY TIDAL STREAMS (SAINTS): SPITZER MID-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND IMAGING OF INTERGALACTIC STAR-FORMING OBJECTS

A spectroscopic analysis of 10 intergalactic star-forming objects (ISFOs) and a photometric analysis of 67 ISFOs in a sample of 14 interacting systems is presented. The majority of the ISFOs have relative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) band strengths similar to those of nearby spiral and star...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Astrophysical journal Vol. 787; no. 2; pp. 1 - 21
Main Authors Higdon, S J U, Higdon, J L, Smith, B J, Hancock, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.2014
Subjects
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ATOMS
CARBON
COLOR
DISSOCIATION
EMISSION
EXCITATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERACTIONS
Interstellar matter
IONS
Knots
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
MILKY WAY
PHOTOMETRY
Polyallylamine hydrochloride
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
Star formation
STARS
Strength
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Summary:A spectroscopic analysis of 10 intergalactic star-forming objects (ISFOs) and a photometric analysis of 67 ISFOs in a sample of 14 interacting systems is presented. The majority of the ISFOs have relative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) band strengths similar to those of nearby spiral and starburst galaxies. In contrast to what is observed in blue compact dwarfs (BCDs) and local giant H II regions in the Milky Way (NGC 3603) and the Magellanic Clouds (30 Doradus and N 66), the relative PAH band strengths in ISFOs correspond to models with a significant PAH ion fraction (<50%) and bright emission from large PAHs (~100 carbon atoms). The infrared power in two-thirds of the ISFOs is dominated by emission from grains in a diffuse interstellar medium. One in six ISFOs have significant emission from PDRs, contributing ~30%-60% of the total power. ISFOs are young knots of intense star formation.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/787/2/103