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New HErschel Multi-wavelength Extragalactic Survey of Edge-on Spirals (NHEMESES)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2012

B. W. Holwerda ,
S. Bianchi ,
M. Baes ,
R. S. de Jong ,
J. J. Dalcanton ,
D. Radburn-Smith ,
K. Gordon  and
M. Xilouris
B. W. Holwerda
Affiliation:
European Space Agency (ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AV Noordwijk, The Netherlands email: benne.holwerda@esa.int
S. Bianchi
Affiliation:
INAF-Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Florence
M. Baes
Affiliation:
University of Gent
R. S. de Jong
Affiliation:
Astronomisch Insitüt Potsdam
J. J. Dalcanton
Affiliation:
University of Washington
D. Radburn-Smith
Affiliation:
University of Washington
K. Gordon
Affiliation:
Space Telescope Science Institute
M. Xilouris
Affiliation:
National Observatory of Athens
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Abstract

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Edge-on spiral galaxies offer a unique perspective on the vertical structure of spiral disks, both stars and the iconic dark dustlanes. The thickness of these dustlanes can now be resolved for the first time with Herschel in far-infrared and sub-mm emission. We present NHEMESES, an ongoing project that targets 12 edge-on spiral galaxies with the PACS and SPIRE instruments on Herschel. These vertically resolved observations of edge-on spirals will impact on several current topics.

First and foremost, these Herschel observations will settle whether or not there is a phase change in the vertical structure of the ISM with disk mass. Previously, a dramatic change in dustlane morphology was observed as in massive disks the dust collapses into a thin lane. If this is the case, the vertical balance between turbulence and gravity dictates the ISM structure and consequently star-formation and related phenomena (spiral arms, bars etc.). We specifically target lower mass nearby edge-ons to complement existing Herschel observations of high-mass edge-on spirals (the HEROES project).

Secondly, the combined data-set, together with existing Spitzer observations, will drive a new generation of spiral disk Spectral Energy Distribution models. These model how dust reprocesses starlight to thermal emission but the dust geometry remains the critical unknown.

And thirdly, the observations will provide an accurate and unbiased census of the cold dusty structures occasionally seen extending out of the plane of the disk, when backlit by the stellar disk. To illustrate the NHEMESES project, we present early results on NGC 4244 and NGC 891, two well studies examples of a low and high-mass edge-on spiral.

Keywords

(ISM:) dustextinction ISM: structure galaxies: fundamental parameters (typical scales, dust mass) galaxies: individual (NGC 4244, NGC 891)galaxies: ISM galaxies: spiral galaxies: structure infrared: ISM submillimeter
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 7 , Symposium S284: The Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies , September 2011 , pp. 128 - 131
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2012

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