Related papers: The PAH hypothesis after 25 years
We explore the relationships between the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) feature strengths, mid-infrared continuum luminosities, far-infrared spectral slopes, optical spectroscopic classifications, and silicate optical depths within a…
In the present contribution, I summarize a systematic study of ISO and Spitzer mid-IR spectra of Galactic regions and star forming galaxies. This study quantifies the relative variations of the main aromatic features inside spatially…
The "unidentified" infrared emission (UIE) features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 $\mu$m are ubiquitously seen in various astrophysical regions. The UIE features are characteristic of the stretching and bending vibrations of aromatic…
Context. The 3.3 $\mu$m aromatic C-H stretching band of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules seen in a wide variety of astrophysical regions is often accompanied by a series of weak satellite bands at ~3.4-3.6 $\mu$m. One of…
Dust grains absorb half of the radiation emitted by stars throughout the history of the universe, re-emitting this energy at infrared wavelengths. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are large organic molecules that trace…
We examine the self-consistency of laboratory and observational data for potential carriers of the 3.3 $\mu$m infrared emission feature (IEF), a member of the ubiquitous family of strong interstellar IEFs at 3.3, 3.4, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.2,…
One of the major challenges to identification of the 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3um interstellar IR emission bands with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules has been the recent detection of these bands in regions with little UV…
We performed mid-infrared spectroscopic observations of 18 local dusty elliptical galaxies by using the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board Spitzer. We have significantly detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features from 14 out…
The search for large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with over 100 carbon atoms is crucial to resolving the origin of unidentified infrared emission (UIE) bands. These bands are commonly observed in nebulae and the interstellar…
We present mid-infrared to optical properties of 22 representative irregular galaxies: 18 Im, 3 BCDs, and one Sm. The mid-IR is based on images from the Spitzer Space Telescope archives. The 3.6 and 4.5 micron bands and the UBVJHK images…
We have obtained new STIS/HST spectra to search for structure in the ultraviolet interstellar extinction curve, with particular emphasis on a search for absorption features produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The presence…
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are fundamental to understanding the interstellar medium (ISM) of several astrophysical objects. Normally present in Starburst (SB) galaxies, they have also been more frequently detected in active…
IR emission bands at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.3 um are generally attributed to IR fluorescence from (mainly) FUV pumped PAHs. As such, they trace the FUV stellar flux and are a measure of star formation. We examined the IR spectral…
The so-called unidentified infrared emission (UIE) features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 $\mu$m ubiquitously seen in a wide variety of astrophysical regions are generally attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules.…
The 2175 \AA\ UV extinction feature was discovered in the mid-1960s, yet its physical origin remains poorly understood. One suggestion is absorption by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) molecules, which is supported by theoretical…
There exists a number of astronomical spectral phenomena that have remained unidentified after decades of extensive observations. The diffuse interstellar bands, the 220 nm feature, unidentified infrared emission bands, extended red…
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are responsible for a variety of near- and mid-infrared spectral features in Galactic and extragalactic sources. A feature at 1.05 $\mu$m arising from electronic transitions in PAH cations is…
The unidentified infrared emission (UIE) features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3 and 12.7 micron are ubiquitously seen in a wide variety of astrophysical regions and commonly attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules.…
We present the results of a systematic study of mid-IR spectra of Galactic regions, Magellanic HII regions, and galaxies of various types (dwarf, spiral, starburst), observed by the satellites ISO and Spitzer. We study the relative…
We measure IRAC colors of extended emission in several fields covering a range of Galactic latitudes and longitudes outside of star forming regions. We determine the nature of the Galactic diffuse emission in Spitzer/IRAC images by…