ISOCAM Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Quiescent Spiral Galaxy NGC 7331

Using the mid-infrared camera (ISOCAM) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), the Sb LINER galaxy NGC 7331 has been imaged in two broadband and four narrowband filters between 6.75 and 15 microns. These maps show a prominent circumnuclear ring of radius 0.25 arcminutes X 0.75 arcminutes (1.1 X 3.3 kpc) encircling an extended central source. The 7.7 and 11.3 micron dust emission features are strong in this galaxy, contributing approximately 1/3 of the total IRAS 12 micron broadband flux from this galaxy. In contrast to starburst galaxies, the 15 micron continuum is weak in NGC 7331. The mid-infrared spectrum does not vary dramatically with position in this quiescent galaxy, showing neither large-scale destruction of the carriers of the emission bands or a large increase in the 15 micron continuum in the star forming ring. In the bulge, there is some enhancement of the 6.75 micron flux, probably because of contributions from photospheric light, however, the 11.3 micron dust feature is also seen, showing additional emission from interstellar or circumstellar dust.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures (figure 3 in color) To appear in the Astrophysical Journa

Interstellar Gas in Low Mass Virgo Cluster Spiral Galaxies

We have measured the strengths of the [C II] 158 micron, [N II] 122 micron, and CO (1 - 0) lines from five low blue luminosity spiral galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, using the Infrared Space Observatory and the NRAO 12m millimeter telescope. Two of the five galaxies have high L([C II)]/L(CO) and L(FIR)/L(CO) ratios compared to higher mass spirals. These two galaxies, NGC 4294 and NGC 4299, have L([C II])/L(CO) ratios of >14,300 and 15,600, respectively, which are similar to values found in dwarf irregular galaxies. This is the first time that such enhanced L([C II])/L(CO) ratios have been found in spiral galaxies. This result may be due to low abundances of dust and heavy elements, which can cause the CO (1 - 0) measurements to underestimate the molecular gas content. Another possibility is that radiation from diffuse HI clouds may dominate the [C II] emission from these galaxies. Less than a third of the observed [C II] emission arises from HII regions.Comment: 24 pages, Latex, 2 Figures, 6 Tables To appear in the Astronomical Journal, July 199

High Spatial Resolution KAO Far-Infrared Observations of the Central Regions of Infrared-Bright Galaxies

We present new high spatial resolution Kuiper Airborne Observatory 50 micron and/or 100 micron data for 11 infrared-bright galaxies. We also tabulate previously published KAO data for 11 other galaxies, along with the IRAS data for the bulges of M 31 and M 81. We find that L(FIR)/L(B) and L(FIR)/L(H) correlate with CO (1 - 0) intensity and tau(100). Galaxies with optical or near-infrared signatures of OB stars in their central regions have higher values of I(CO) and tau(100), as well as higher far-infrared surface brightnesses and L(FIR)/L(B) and L(FIR)/L(H) ratios. L(FIR)/L(H(alpha)) does not correlate strongly with CO and tau(100). These results support a scenario in which OB stars dominate dust heating in the more active galaxies and older stars are important in quiescent bulges.Comment: 45 pages, to appear in Ap.J. vol. 468 (Sept. 1996). 17 postscript figures and 10 postscript tables available at ftp://ipac.caltech.edu/science/bsmith/ka

Phase Lags in the Optical-Infrared Light Curves of AGB Stars

To search for phase lags in the optical-infrared light curves of asymptotic giant branch stars, we have compared infrared data from the COBE DIRBE satellite with optical light curves from the AAVSO and other sources. We found 17 examples of phase lags in the time of maximum in the infrared vs. that in the optical, and 4 stars with no observed lags. There is a clear difference between the Mira variables and the semi-regulars in the sample, with the maximum in the optical preceding that in the near-infrared in the Miras, while in most of the semi-regulars no lags are observed. Comparison to published theoretical models indicates that the phase lags in the Miras are due to strong titanium oxide absorption in the visual at stellar maximum, and suggests that Miras pulsate in the fundamental mode, while at least some semi-regulars are first overtone pulsators. There is a clear optical-near-infrared phase lag in the carbon-rich Mira V CrB; this is likely due to C2 and CN absorption variations in the optical.Comment: AJ, in pres

NGC 4314. III. Inflowing Molecular Gas Feeding a Nuclear Ring of Star Formation

NGC 4314 is an early-type barred galaxy containing a nuclear ring of recent star formation. We present CO(1-0) interferometer data of the bar and circumnuclear region with 2.3 x 2.2 arcsec spatial resolution and 13 km/s velocity resolution acquired at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory . These data reveal a clumpy circumnuclear ring of molecular gas. We also find a peak of CO inside the ring within 2 arcsec of the optical center that is not associated with massive star formation. We construct a rotation curve from these CO kinematic data and the mass model of Combes et al. (1992). Using this rotation curve, we have identified the location of orbital resonances in the galaxy. Assuming that the bar ends at corotation, the circumnuclear ring of star formation lies between two Inner Lindblad Resonances, while the nuclear stellar bar ends near the IILR. Deviations from circular motion are detected just beyond the CO and H-alpha ring, where the dust lanes along the leading edge of the bar intersect the nuclear ring. These non-circular motions along the minor axis correspond to radially inward streaming motions at speeds of 20 - 90 km/s and clearly show inflowing gas feeding an ILR ring. There are bright HII regions near the ends of this inflow region, perhaps indicating triggering of star formation by the inflow.Comment: 25 pages, uses aasms.sty. 7 Postscript figures, 12 JPEG figures. Figures may be retrieved from ftp://clyde.as.utexas.edu/pub/N4314COfigs.tar.g

A redshift survey of IRAS galaxies

Results are presented from a redshift survey of all 72 galaxies detected by IRAS in Band 3 at flux levels equal to or greater then 2 Jy. The luminosity function at the high luminosity end is proportional to L sup -2, however, a flattening was observed at the low luminosity end indicating that a single power law is not a good description of the entire luminosity function. Only three galaxies in the sample have emission line spectra indicative of AGN's, suggesting that, at least in nearby galaxies, unobscured nuclear activity is not a strong contributor to the far infrared flux. Comparisons between the selected IRAS galaxies and an optically complete sample taken from the CfA redshift survey show that they are more narrowly distributed than those optically selected, in the sence that the IRAS sample includes few galaxies of low absolute blue luminosity. It was also found that the space distributions of the two samples differ: the density enhancement or IRAS galaxies is only approx. 1/3 that of the optically selected galaxies in the core of the Coma cluster

The Origin of the 4.5 micron Excess from Dwarf Galaxies

Dwarf galaxies tend to have redder [3.6 micron] - [4.5 micron] Spitzer broadband colors than spirals. To investigate this effect, for a large sample of dwarf galaxies we combine Spitzer fluxes with data at other wavelengths and compare to population synthesis models. Lower metallicity systems are found to have redder [3.6] - [4.5] colors on average, but with considerable scatter. The observed range in [3.6] - [4.5] color is too large to be accounted for solely by variations in stellar colors due to age or metallicity differences; interstellar effects must contribute as well. For the reddest systems, the 4.5 micron luminosity may not be a good tracer of stellar mass. We identify three factors that redden this color in dwarfs. First, in some systems, strong Br-alpha emission contributes significantly to the 4.5 micron emission. Second, in some cases high optical depths lead to strong reddening of the starlight in the Spitzer bands. Third, in some galaxies, the nebular continuum dominates the 4.5 micron flux, and in extreme cases, the 3.6 micron flux as well. The harder UV radiation fields in lower metallicity systems produce both more gaseous continuum in the infrared and more Br-alpha per star formation rate. The combination of these three factors can account for the 4.5 micron excess in our sample galaxies, thus it is not necessary to invoke a major contribution from hot dust to the 4.5 micron band. However, given the uncertainties, we are not able to completely rule out hot dust emission at 4.5 micron. More spectroscopic observations in the 3 - 5 micron range are needed to disentangle these effects.Comment: Accepted by Astronomical Journa