Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies

D. A. Dale; G. J. Bendo; C. W. Engelbracht; K. D. Gordon; M. W. Regan; L. Armus; J. M. Cannon; D. Calzetti; B. T. Draine; G. Helou; R. D. Joseph; R. C. Kennicutt; A. Li; E. J. Murphy; H. Roussel; F. Walter; H. M. Hanson; D. J. Hollenbach; T. H. Jarrett; L. J. Kewley; C. A. Lamanna; C. Leitherer; M. J. Meyer; G. H. Rieke; M. J. Rieke; K. Sheth; J. D.T. Smith; M. D. Thornley

doi:10.1086/491642

Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies

D. A. Dale, G. J. Bendo, C. W. Engelbracht, K. D. Gordon, M. W. Regan, L. Armus, J. M. Cannon, D. Calzetti, B. T. Draine, G. Helou, R. D. Joseph, R. C. Kennicutt, A. Li, E. J. Murphy, H. Roussel, F. Walter, H. M. Hanson, D. J. Hollenbach, T. H. Jarrett, L. J. KewleyC. A. Lamanna, C. Leitherer, M. J. Meyer, G. H. Rieke, M. J. Rieke, K. Sheth, J. D.T. Smith, M. D. Thornley

Astrophysical Sciences

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Abstract

The Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) is carrying out a comprehensive multiwavelength survey on a sample of 75 nearby galaxies. The 1-850 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are presented using broadband imaging data from Spitzer, 2MASS, ISO, IRAS, and SCUBA. The infrared colors derived from the globally integrated Spitzer data are generally consistent with the previous generation of models that were developed using global data for normal star-forming galaxies, although significant deviations are observed. Spitzer's excellent sensitivity and resolution also allow a detailed investigation of the infrared SEDs for various locations within the three large, nearby galaxies NGC 3031 (M81), NGC 5194 (M51), and NGC 7331. A wide variety of spectral shapes is found within each galaxy, especially for NGC 3031, the closest of the three targets and thus the galaxy for which the smallest spatial scales can be explored. Strong correlations exist between the local star formation rate and the infrared colors f_v(70 μm)/f_v(160 μm) and f_v(24 μm)/f_v(160 μm), suggesting that the 24 and 70 μm emission are useful tracers of the local star formation activity level. Preliminary evidence indicates that variations in the 24 μm emission, and not variations in the emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 8 μm, drive the variations in thef_v8.0 μm)/f_v(24 μm) colors within NGC 3031, NGC 5194, and NGC 7331. If the galaxy-to-galaxy variations in SEDs seen in our sample are representative of the range present at high redshift, then extrapolations of total infrared luminosities and star formation rates from the observed 24 μm flux will be uncertain at the factor of 5 level (total range). The corresponding uncertainties using the redshifted 8.0 μm flux (e.g., observed 24 μm flux for a z = 2 source) are factors of 10-20. Considerable caution should be used when interpreting such extrapolated infrared luminosities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	857-870
Number of pages	14
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	633
Issue number	2 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/491642
State	Published - Nov 10 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Infrared: ISM
Infrared: galaxies

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10.1086/491642

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Dale, D. A., Bendo, G. J., Engelbracht, C. W., Gordon, K. D., Regan, M. W., Armus, L., Cannon, J. M., Calzetti, D., Draine, B. T., Helou, G., Joseph, R. D., Kennicutt, R. C., Li, A., Murphy, E. J., Roussel, H., Walter, F., Hanson, H. M., Hollenbach, D. J., Jarrett, T. H., ... Thornley, M. D. (2005). Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies. Astrophysical Journal, 633(2 I), 857-870. https://doi.org/10.1086/491642

@article{3b7dfd923a2847b2beab590c63de35d9,

title = "Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies",

abstract = "The Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) is carrying out a comprehensive multiwavelength survey on a sample of 75 nearby galaxies. The 1-850 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are presented using broadband imaging data from Spitzer, 2MASS, ISO, IRAS, and SCUBA. The infrared colors derived from the globally integrated Spitzer data are generally consistent with the previous generation of models that were developed using global data for normal star-forming galaxies, although significant deviations are observed. Spitzer's excellent sensitivity and resolution also allow a detailed investigation of the infrared SEDs for various locations within the three large, nearby galaxies NGC 3031 (M81), NGC 5194 (M51), and NGC 7331. A wide variety of spectral shapes is found within each galaxy, especially for NGC 3031, the closest of the three targets and thus the galaxy for which the smallest spatial scales can be explored. Strong correlations exist between the local star formation rate and the infrared colors fv(70 μm)/fv(160 μm) and fv(24 μm)/fv(160 μm), suggesting that the 24 and 70 μm emission are useful tracers of the local star formation activity level. Preliminary evidence indicates that variations in the 24 μm emission, and not variations in the emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 8 μm, drive the variations in thefv8.0 μm)/fv(24 μm) colors within NGC 3031, NGC 5194, and NGC 7331. If the galaxy-to-galaxy variations in SEDs seen in our sample are representative of the range present at high redshift, then extrapolations of total infrared luminosities and star formation rates from the observed 24 μm flux will be uncertain at the factor of 5 level (total range). The corresponding uncertainties using the redshifted 8.0 μm flux (e.g., observed 24 μm flux for a z = 2 source) are factors of 10-20. Considerable caution should be used when interpreting such extrapolated infrared luminosities.",

keywords = "Infrared: ISM, Infrared: galaxies",

author = "Dale, {D. A.} and Bendo, {G. J.} and Engelbracht, {C. W.} and Gordon, {K. D.} and Regan, {M. W.} and L. Armus and Cannon, {J. M.} and D. Calzetti and Draine, {B. T.} and G. Helou and Joseph, {R. D.} and Kennicutt, {R. C.} and A. Li and Murphy, {E. J.} and H. Roussel and F. Walter and Hanson, {H. M.} and Hollenbach, {D. J.} and Jarrett, {T. H.} and Kewley, {L. J.} and Lamanna, {C. A.} and C. Leitherer and Meyer, {M. J.} and Rieke, {G. H.} and Rieke, {M. J.} and K. Sheth and Smith, {J. D.T.} and Thornley, {M. D.}",

year = "2005",

month = nov,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/491642",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "633",

pages = "857--870",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2 I",

}

Dale, DA, Bendo, GJ, Engelbracht, CW, Gordon, KD, Regan, MW, Armus, L, Cannon, JM, Calzetti, D, Draine, BT, Helou, G, Joseph, RD, Kennicutt, RC, Li, A, Murphy, EJ, Roussel, H, Walter, F, Hanson, HM, Hollenbach, DJ, Jarrett, TH, Kewley, LJ, Lamanna, CA, Leitherer, C, Meyer, MJ, Rieke, GH, Rieke, MJ, Sheth, K, Smith, JDT & Thornley, MD 2005, 'Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 633, no. 2 I, pp. 857-870. https://doi.org/10.1086/491642

TY - JOUR

T1 - Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies

AU - Dale, D. A.

AU - Bendo, G. J.

AU - Engelbracht, C. W.

AU - Gordon, K. D.

AU - Regan, M. W.

AU - Armus, L.

AU - Cannon, J. M.

AU - Calzetti, D.

AU - Draine, B. T.

AU - Helou, G.

AU - Joseph, R. D.

AU - Kennicutt, R. C.

AU - Li, A.

AU - Murphy, E. J.

AU - Roussel, H.

AU - Walter, F.

AU - Hanson, H. M.

AU - Hollenbach, D. J.

AU - Jarrett, T. H.

AU - Kewley, L. J.

AU - Lamanna, C. A.

AU - Leitherer, C.

AU - Meyer, M. J.

AU - Rieke, G. H.

AU - Rieke, M. J.

AU - Sheth, K.

AU - Smith, J. D.T.

AU - Thornley, M. D.

PY - 2005/11/10

Y1 - 2005/11/10

N2 - The Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) is carrying out a comprehensive multiwavelength survey on a sample of 75 nearby galaxies. The 1-850 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are presented using broadband imaging data from Spitzer, 2MASS, ISO, IRAS, and SCUBA. The infrared colors derived from the globally integrated Spitzer data are generally consistent with the previous generation of models that were developed using global data for normal star-forming galaxies, although significant deviations are observed. Spitzer's excellent sensitivity and resolution also allow a detailed investigation of the infrared SEDs for various locations within the three large, nearby galaxies NGC 3031 (M81), NGC 5194 (M51), and NGC 7331. A wide variety of spectral shapes is found within each galaxy, especially for NGC 3031, the closest of the three targets and thus the galaxy for which the smallest spatial scales can be explored. Strong correlations exist between the local star formation rate and the infrared colors fv(70 μm)/fv(160 μm) and fv(24 μm)/fv(160 μm), suggesting that the 24 and 70 μm emission are useful tracers of the local star formation activity level. Preliminary evidence indicates that variations in the 24 μm emission, and not variations in the emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 8 μm, drive the variations in thefv8.0 μm)/fv(24 μm) colors within NGC 3031, NGC 5194, and NGC 7331. If the galaxy-to-galaxy variations in SEDs seen in our sample are representative of the range present at high redshift, then extrapolations of total infrared luminosities and star formation rates from the observed 24 μm flux will be uncertain at the factor of 5 level (total range). The corresponding uncertainties using the redshifted 8.0 μm flux (e.g., observed 24 μm flux for a z = 2 source) are factors of 10-20. Considerable caution should be used when interpreting such extrapolated infrared luminosities.

AB - The Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) is carrying out a comprehensive multiwavelength survey on a sample of 75 nearby galaxies. The 1-850 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are presented using broadband imaging data from Spitzer, 2MASS, ISO, IRAS, and SCUBA. The infrared colors derived from the globally integrated Spitzer data are generally consistent with the previous generation of models that were developed using global data for normal star-forming galaxies, although significant deviations are observed. Spitzer's excellent sensitivity and resolution also allow a detailed investigation of the infrared SEDs for various locations within the three large, nearby galaxies NGC 3031 (M81), NGC 5194 (M51), and NGC 7331. A wide variety of spectral shapes is found within each galaxy, especially for NGC 3031, the closest of the three targets and thus the galaxy for which the smallest spatial scales can be explored. Strong correlations exist between the local star formation rate and the infrared colors fv(70 μm)/fv(160 μm) and fv(24 μm)/fv(160 μm), suggesting that the 24 and 70 μm emission are useful tracers of the local star formation activity level. Preliminary evidence indicates that variations in the 24 μm emission, and not variations in the emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 8 μm, drive the variations in thefv8.0 μm)/fv(24 μm) colors within NGC 3031, NGC 5194, and NGC 7331. If the galaxy-to-galaxy variations in SEDs seen in our sample are representative of the range present at high redshift, then extrapolations of total infrared luminosities and star formation rates from the observed 24 μm flux will be uncertain at the factor of 5 level (total range). The corresponding uncertainties using the redshifted 8.0 μm flux (e.g., observed 24 μm flux for a z = 2 source) are factors of 10-20. Considerable caution should be used when interpreting such extrapolated infrared luminosities.

KW - Infrared: ISM

KW - Infrared: galaxies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=28044463193&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=28044463193&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/491642

DO - 10.1086/491642

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:28044463193

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 633

SP - 857

EP - 870

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 I

ER -

Infrared spectral energy distributions of nearby galaxies

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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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