| Description |
H2O and OH are key tracers of the structure, kinematics, and activityin the nuclear regions of (Ultra) Luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs): with their excitation dominated by pumping by far-infrared continuumradiation, they probe the nuclear source of the far-IR radiation and itsassociated structures (disks, torus); their P-Cygni, absorption, andemission profiles trace massive molecular outflows and possibly inflows, andthe astrophysically important associated energetics involved in the (negative)feedback from star formation and/or AGN on the molecular gas; they probe thephysical and radiative environments (X-rays, cosmic rays, hot cores) wherethey reside. In order to distinguish among the above scenarios, we propose PACS spectroscopy of key transitions of H2O and OH in a sample of 9bright (U)LIRGs where submillimeter H2O lines have been detected with SPIRE,as well as key diagnostic lines of NH3 and OH+ to ascertain the formationmechanism and implied physical processes. The proposed observations will serveas a crucial benchmark for future routine observations of H2O with ALMA in thedistant Universe. |
| Keywords |
Herschel Space Observatory data, ESA Herschel mission dataset, far-infrared astronomy observations, submillimeter astronomy data, infrared space telescope observations, PACS photometer data, PACS spectrometer data, SPIRE photometer data, SPIRE Fourier transform spectrometer data, HIFI heterodyne spectroscopy data, far-infrared spectroscopy dataset, submillimeter spectral line observations, cold universe observations dataset, star formation infrared data, molecular cloud far-infrared observations, interstellar medium spectroscopy data, protoplanetary disk infrared observations, galaxy evolution far-infrared data, dust emission submillimeter observations, cosmic infrared background measurements, extragalactic infrared survey data, calibrated level 2 data products, FITS files astronomy, spectral cubes far-infrared, flux-calibrated maps, continuum photometry data, spectral energy distribution measurements, ESA Herschel Science Archive data |
