We present an analysis of Spitzer IRS spectroscopy of 83 active galaxies from the extended 12 μm sample. We find rank correlations between several tracers of star formation which suggest that (1) the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon feature is a reliable tracer of star formation, (2) there is a significant contribution to the heating of the cool dust by stars, and (3) the H 2 emission is also primarily excited by star formation. The 55-90 versus 20-30 spectral index plot is also a diagnostic of the relative contribution of starburst to active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We see there is a large change in spectral index across the sample: Δα ∼ 3 for both indices. Thus, the contribution to the IR spectrum from the AGN and starburst components can be comparable in magnitude but the relative contribution also varies widely across the sample. We find rank correlations between several AGN tracers. We find correlations of the ratios14 μm with the silicate strength which we adopt as an orientation indicator. This suggests that some of the [O iii]λ5007 emission in these Seyferts is subject to orientation dependent obscuration as found by Haas et al. for radio galaxies and quasars. There is no correlation of [Ne v] equivalent width with the silicate 10 μm strength, indicating that the [Ne v] emission is not strongly orientation dependent. This suggests that the obscuring material (e.g., torus) is not very optically thick at 14 μm consistent with the results of Buchanan et al. We search for correlations between AGN and starburst tracers and we conclude that the AGN and starburst tracers are not correlated. This is consistent with our conclusion that the relative strength of the AGN and starburst components varies widely across the sample. Thus, there is no simple link between AGN fueling and black hole growth and star formation in these galaxies. The density diagnostic [Ne v] 14/24 μm and [S iii] 18/33 μm line ratios are consistent with the gas being near the low density limit, i.e., ∼10 3 cm −3 for [Ne v] and n e ∼ few hundred cm −3 for [S iii]. The distribution of silicate 10 μm and 18 μm strengths is consistent with the clumpy torus models of Sirocky et al. We find a rank correlation between the [Ne v] 14 μm line and the 6.7 μm continuum which may be due to an extended component of hot dust. The Sy 2's with a hidden broad-line region (HBLR) have a higher ratio of AGN-to-starburst contribution to the spectral energy distribution than Sy 2's without an HBLR. This may contribute to the detection of the HBLR in polarized light. The Sy 2's with an HBLR are more similar to the Sy 1's than they are to the Sy 2's without an HBLR.
Abstract. The near-earth object camera (NEOCam) is a proposed infrared space mission designed to discover and characterize most of the potentially hazardous asteroids larger than 140 m in diameter that orbit near the Earth. NASA has funded technology development for NEOCam, including the development of long wavelength infrared detector arrays that will have excellent zodiacal background emission-limited performance at passively cooled focal plane temperatures. Teledyne Imaging Sensors has developed and delivered for test at the University of Rochester the first set of approximately 10 μm cutoff, 1024 × 1024 pixel HgCdTe detector arrays. Measurements of these arrays show the development to be extremely promising: noise, dark current, quantum efficiency, and well depth goals have been met by this technology at focal plane temperatures of 35 to 40 K, readily attainable with passive cooling. The next set of arrays to be developed will address changes suggested by the first set of deliverables.
Building on the successful development of the 10 µm HgCdTe detector arrays for the proposed NEOCam mission, the University of Rochester Infrared Detector team and Teledyne Imaging Systems are working together to extend the cutoff wavelength of HgCdTe detector arrays initially to 13 µm, with the ultimate goal of developing 15 µm HgCdTe detector arrays for space and ground-based astronomy. The advantage of HgCdTe detector arrays is that they can operate at higher temperatures than the currently used arsenic doped silicon detector arrays at the longer wavelengths. Our infrared detector team at the University of Rochester has received and tested four 13 µm detector arrays from Teledyne Imaging Systems with three different pixel designs, two of which are meant to reduce quantum tunneling dark current. The pixel design of one of these arrays has mitigated the effects of quantum tunneling dark currents for which we have been able to achieve, at a temperature of 28 K and applied bias of 350 mV, a well depth of at least 75 ke − for 90% of the pixels with a median dark current of 1.8 e − /sec. These arrays have demonstrated encouraging results as we move forward to extending the cutoff wavelength to 15 µm.
The University of Rochester infrared detector group is working together with Teledyne Imaging Sensors to develop HgCdTe 15 µm cutoff wavelength detector arrays for future space missions. To reach the 15 µm cutoff goal, we took an intermediate step by developing four ∼13 µm cutoff wavelength arrays to identify any unforeseen effects related to increasing the cutoff wavelength from the extensively characterized 10 µm cutoff wavelength detector arrays developed for the NEOCam mission. The characterization of the ∼13 µm cutoff wavelength HgCdTe arrays at the University of Rochester allowed us to determine the key dark current mechanisms that limit the performance of these HgCdTe detector arrays at different temperatures and bias when the cutoff wavelength is increased. We present initial dark current and well depth measurements of a 15 µm cutoff array which shows dark current values two orders of magnitude smaller at large reverse bias than would be expected from our previous best structures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.