We study a 24,$mu$m selected sample of 330 galaxies observed with the Infrared Spectrograph for the 5,mJy Unbiased Spitzer Extragalactic Survey. We estimate accurate total infrared luminosities by combining mid-IR spectroscopy and mid-to-far infrared
photometry, and by utilizing new empirical spectral templates from {em Spitzer} data. The infrared luminosities of this sample range mostly from 10$^9$L$_odot$ to $10^{13.5}$L$_odot$, with 83% in the range 10$^{10}$L$_odot$$<$L$_{rm IR}$$<10^{12}$L$_odot$. The redshifts range from 0.008 to 4.27, with a median of 0.144. The equivalent widths of the 6.2,$mu$m aromatic feature have a bimodal distribution. We use the 6.2,$mu$m PAH EW to classify our objects as SB-dominated (44%), SB-AGN composite (22%), and AGN-dominated (34%). The high EW objects (SB-dominated) tend to have steeper mid-IR to far-IR spectral slopes and lower L$_{rm IR}$ and redshifts. The low EW objects (AGN-dominated) tend to have less steep spectral slopes and higher L$_{rm IR}$ and redshifts. This dichotomy leads to a gross correlation between EW and slope, which does not hold within either group. AGN dominated sources tend to have lower log(L$_{rm PAH 7.7mu m}$/L$_{rm PAH 11.3mu m}$) ratios than star-forming galaxies, possibly due to preferential destruction of the smaller aromatics by the AGN. The log(L$_{rm PAH 7.7mu m}$/L$_{rm PAH 11.3mu m}$) ratios for star-forming galaxies are lower in our sample than the ratios measured from the nuclear spectra of nearby normal galaxies, most probably indicating a difference in the ionization state or grain size distribution between the nuclear regions and the entire galaxy. Finally, we provide a calibration relating the monochromatic 5.8, 8, 14 and 24um continuum or Aromatic Feature luminosity to L$_{rm IR}$ for different types of objects.
We present low-resolution 5.5-35 um spectra for 103 galaxies from the 12 um Seyfert sample, a complete unbiased 12 um flux limited sample of local Seyfert galaxies selected from the IRAS Faint Source Catalog, obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph (
IRS) on-board Spitzer Space Telescope. For 70 of the sources observed in the IRS mapping mode, uniformly extracted nuclear spectra are presented for the first time. We performed an analysis of the continuum emission, the strength of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) and astronomical silicate features of the sources. We find that on average, the 15-30 um slope of the continuum is alpha_{15-30}=-0.85+-0.61 for Seyfert 1s and -1.53+-0.84 for Seyfert 2s, and there is substantial scatter in each type. Moreover, nearly 32% of Seyfert 1s, and 9% of Seyfert 2s, display a peak in the mid-infrared spectrum at 20 um, which is attributed to an additional hot dust component. The PAH equivalent width decreases with increasing dust temperature, asindicated by the global infrared color of the host galaxies. However, no statistical difference in PAH equivalent width is detected between the two Seyfert types, 1 and 2, of the same bolometric luminosity. The silicate features at 9.7 and 18um in Seyfert 1 galaxies are rather weak, while Seyfert 2s are more likely to display strong silicate absorption. Those Seyfert 2s with the highest silicate absorption also have high infrared luminosity and high absorption (hydrogen column density N_H>10^23 cm^-2 as measured from the X-rays. Finally, we propose a new method to estimate the AGN contribution to the integrated 12 um galaxy emission, by subtracting the star formation component in the Seyfert galaxies, making use of the tight correlation between PAH 11.2 um luminosity and 12 um luminosity for star forming galaxies.
The unprecedented sensitivity of the Spitzer Space Telescope has enabled us for the first time to detect a large sample of Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies (BCDs), which are intrinsically faint in the infrared. In the present paper we present a summary of
our findings which providing essential information on the presence/absence of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon features in metal-poor environments. In addition, using Spitzer/IRS high-resolution spectroscopy, we study the elemental abundances of neon and sulfur in BCDs and compare with the results from optical studies. Finally, we present an analysis of the mid- and far-infrared to radio correlation in low luminosity low metallicity galaxies.
We study the correlation between the radio, mid-infrared and far-infrared properties for a sample of 28 blue compact dwarf (BCD) and low metallicity star-forming galaxies observed by Spitzer. We find that these sources extend the same far-infrared to
radio correlation typical of star forming late type alaxies to lower luminosities. In BCDs, the 24um (or 22um) mid-infrared to radio correlation is similar to starburst galaxies, though there is somewhat larger dispersion in their q_24 parameter compared to their q_FIR. No strong correlations between the q parameter and galaxy metallicity or effective dust temperature have been detected, though there is a hint of decreasing q_24 at low metallicities. The two lowest metallicity dwarfs in our sample, IZw18 and SBS0335-052E, despite their similar chemical abundance, deviate from the average q$_{24}$ ratio in opposite manners, displaying an apparent radio excess and dust excess respectively.
We present a study of elemental abundances in a sample of thirteen Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxies, using the $sim$10--37$mu$m high resolution spectra obtained with Spitzer/IRS. We derive the abundances of neon and sulfur for our sample using the i
nfrared fine-structure lines probing regions which may be obscured by dust in the optical and compare our results with similar infrared studies of starburst galaxies from ISO. We find a good correlation between the neon and sulfur abundances, though sulfur is under-abundant relative to neon with respect to the solar value. A comparison of the elemental abundances (neon, sulfur) measured from the infrared data with those derived from the optical (neon, sulfur, oxygen) studies reveals a good overall agreement for sulfur, while the infrared derived neon abundances are slightly higher than the optical values. This indicates that either the metallicities of dust enshrouded regions in BCDs are similar to the optically accessible regions, or that if they are different they do not contribute substantially to the total infrared emission of the host galaxy.
