Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Astrophysics and Astronomy

University of Kentucky

Series

2007

Galaxies: ISM

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Distribution Of Silicate Strength In Spitzer Spectra Of Agns And Ulirgs, Lei Hao, D. W. Weedman, H. Spoon, J. A. Marshall, N. A. Levenson, Moshe Elitzur, J. R. Houck Feb 2007

The Distribution Of Silicate Strength In Spitzer Spectra Of Agns And Ulirgs, Lei Hao, D. W. Weedman, H. Spoon, J. A. Marshall, N. A. Levenson, Moshe Elitzur, J. R. Houck

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

A sample of 196 AGNs and ULIRGs observed by the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on Spitzer is analyzed to study the distribution of the strength of the 9.7 μm silicate feature. Average spectra are derived for quasars, Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 AGNs, and ULIRGs. We find that quasars are characterized by silicate features in emission and Seyfert 1s equally by emission or weak absorption. Seyfert 2s are dominated by weak silicate absorption, and ULIRGs are characterized by strong silicate absorption (mean apparent optical depth about 1.5). Luminosity distributions show that luminosities at rest frame 5.5 μm are similar …


Mid-Infrared Galaxy Classification Based On Silicate Obscuration And Pah Equivalent Width, H. W. W. Spoon, J. A. Marshall, J. R. Houck, Moshe Elitzur, L. Hao, L. Armus, B. R. Brandl, V. Charmandaris Jan 2007

Mid-Infrared Galaxy Classification Based On Silicate Obscuration And Pah Equivalent Width, H. W. W. Spoon, J. A. Marshall, J. R. Houck, Moshe Elitzur, L. Hao, L. Armus, B. R. Brandl, V. Charmandaris

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a new diagnostic diagram for mid-infrared spectra of infrared galaxies based on the equivalent width of the 6.2 μm PAH emission feature and the strength of the 9.7 μm silicate feature. Based on the positions in this diagram, we classify galaxies into nine classes ranging from continuum-dominated AGN hot dust spectra and PAH-dominated starburst spectra to absorption-dominated spectra of deeply obscured galactic nuclei. We find that galaxies are systematically distributed along two distinct branches: one of AGN and starburst-dominated spectra and one of deeply obscured nuclei and starburst-dominated spectra. The separation into two branches likely reflects …