CaltechAUTHORS
Published May 2021 | Version Published + Accepted Version
Journal Article Open

The case for thermalization as a contributor to the [C II] deficit

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon University of Wyoming
  • 2. ROR icon University of California, San Diego
  • 3. ROR icon University of Toledo
  • 4. ROR icon University of Maryland, College Park
  • 5. ROR icon University of Antofagasta
  • 6. ROR icon University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • 7. ROR icon University College London
  • 8. ROR icon University of Paris
  • 9. ROR icon Australian National University
  • 10. ROR icon University of Western Australia
  • 11. ROR icon Infrared Processing and Analysis Center
  • 12. ROR icon University of Concepción
  • 13. ROR icon Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
  • 14. ROR icon University of Arizona
  • 15. ROR icon Texas A&M University
  • 16. ROR icon McMaster University

Abstract

The [C II] deficit, which describes the observed decrease in the ratio of [C II] 158 μm emission to continuum infrared emission in galaxies with high star formation surface densities, places a significant challenge to the interpretation of [C II] detections from across the observable universe. In an attempt to further decode the cause of the [C II] deficit, the [C II] and dust continuum emission from 18 Local Volume galaxies has been split based on conditions within the interstellar medium where it originated. This is completed using the Key Insights in Nearby Galaxies: a Far-Infrared Survey with Herschel (KINGFISH) and Beyond the Peak (BtP) surveys and the wide-range of wavelength information, from UV to far-infrared emission lines, available for a selection of star-forming regions within these samples. By comparing these subdivided [C II] emissions to isolated infrared emission and other properties, we find that the thermalization (collisional de-excitation) of the [C II] line in H II regions plays a significant role in the deficit observed in our sample.

Additional Information

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model). Accepted 2021 February 16. Received 2021 February 1; in original form 2020 December 9. Published: 20 February 2021. This work was supported by NASA Headquarters under the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program, Grant #80NSSC18K1107, as the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, NASA Grant #NNX15AI08H. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA. IRAF, the Image Reduction and Analysis Facility, has been developed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories and the Space Telescope Science Institute. Data Availability: All data are available through IRSA through the KINGFISH database at https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/data/Herschel/KINGFISH/ with the exception of the SPIRE spectroscopy, which is available upon request.

Attached Files

Published - stab490.pdf

Accepted Version - 2102.08865.pdf

Files

2102.08865.pdf

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Additional details

Additional titles

Alternative title
The Case for Thermalization as a Contributor to the [CII] Deficit

Identifiers

Eprint ID
109340
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20210602-100900704

Related works

Describes
https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.08865 (URL)
https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/data/Herschel/KINGFISH/ (URL)

Funding

NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship
80NSSC18K1107
Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium
NASA
NNX15AI08H

Dates

Created
2021-06-02
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2021-06-03
Created from EPrint's last_modified field

Caltech Custom Metadata

Caltech groups
Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)