We propose a spatially-resolved far-infrared spectroscopic survey of a sample of 23 nuclear and extranuclear regions within 22 nearby galaxies, selected to represent the broadest range of key physical properties, including luminosity, gas and stellar mass, star-formation density, and infrared activity. Combined with our wealth of ancillary imaging and spatially resolved spectroscopy from the heritage of SINGS-KINGFISH and related surveys (ultraviolet, optical, infrared, low-J CO, and radio), the proposed SPIRE-FTS dataset will provide key insights into the processes that shape the interstellar medium and govern star formation. Detection of the continuum emission from large grains over 200-650 microns will place new constraints on the long-wavelength behavior of dust emissivity. The richness of the emission line spectrum in this wavelength regime will allow us to quantify the excitation conditions of CO over a wide range of environments, and to characterize the physical properties of warm and dense gas within galaxies on kiloparsec scales, interpreting these properties using models of photo- and X-ray-dissociated gas, and comparing directly with resolved tracers of star formation, heating, and AGN activity. With capabilities unmatched by existing or planned ground- or space-based facilities, SPIRE-FTS mapping of a well-studied sample of nearby galaxies will serve as a crucial, unique, and lasting foundation for interpreting ALMA observations of galaxies at high redshift.
Publication
On the far-infrared metallicity diagnostics: applications to high-redshift galaxies . Rigopoulou D. et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 473, Issue 1, p.20-29 . 473 . 10.1093/mnras/stx2311 . 2018MNRAS.473...20R , The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder - II. Estimating radial velocity of SPIRE spectral observation sources . Scott Jeremy P. et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2020MNRAS.496.4894S , The Origins of [C II] Emission in Local Star-forming Galaxies . Croxall K. V. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 845, Issue 2, article id. 96, 7 pp. (2017). . 845 . 10.3847/1538-4357/aa8035 . 2017ApJ...845...96C , WiNDS: An H α <-> Kinematics Survey of Nearby Spiral Galaxies-Vertical Perturbations in Nearby Disk-type Galaxies . Urrejola-Mora Catalina et al. . The Astrophysical Journal . null . null . 2022ApJ...935...20U , L‧CO-LFIR Relations with CO Rotational Ladders of Galaxies Across the Herschel SPIRE Archive . Kamenetzky J. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 829, Issue 2, article id. 93, 16 pp. (2016). . 829 . 10.3847/0004-637X/829/2/93 . 2016ApJ...829...93K , [C I](1─0) and [C I](2─1) in Resolved Local Galaxies . Crocker Alison F. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal . null . null . 2019ApJ...887..105C , The Carbon-to-H2<->, CO-to-H2<-> conversion factors, and carbon abundance on kiloparsec scales in nearby galaxies . Jiao Qian et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2021MNRAS.504.2360J , The Ionized Gas in Nearby Galaxies a...s Traced by the [N II] 122 and 205 μm Transitions . Herrera-Camus R. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 826, Issue 2, article id. 175, 17 pp. (2016). . 826 . 10.3847/0004-637X/826/2/175 . 2016ApJ...826..175H , High-J CO versus Far-infrared Relations in Normal and Starburst Galaxies . Liu Daizhong et al. . The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 810, Issue 2, article id. L14, 6 pp. (2015). . 810 . 10.1088/2041-8205/810/2/L14 . 2015ApJ...810L..14L , The case for thermalization as a contributor to the [C II] deficit . Sutter Jessica et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2021MNRAS.503..911S ,
Instrument
SPIRE_SpireSpectrometer_
Temporal Coverage
2011-07-27T03:57:50Z/2012-10-06T21:52:20Z
Version
SPG v14.1.0
Mission Description
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth 'cornerstone' mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
