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PAH Emission Features as Astrophysical Probes
	
 Oct 19, 2011 
 3:30PM to 4:30PM





	





























Date/Time

Date(s) - 19/10/2011
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm





Title: PAH Emission Features as Astrophysical Probes


Speaker: Dr. Els Peeters, University of Western ON


Institute: University of Western Ontario

Physics Department


Location: ABB 102


Description:


The infrared spectra of most galactic and extragalactic sources are dominated by infrared emission features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.2 micron, the so-called unidentified infrared (UIR) bands. These emission features are generally attributed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules (PAHs) and closely related species. These PAH bands have been found in a wide variety of environments throughout the Universe and contain up to 10% of the total power output of star-forming galaxies.


Ground-based telescopes such as the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and the Spitzer Space Telescope revealed the richness of the PAH spectrum and provided extensive evidence for significant variability in the PAH spectrum from source to source and spatially within sources. In this talk, I will discuss the spectral characteristics of astronomical PAHs, their dependence on the local environments and the implications for the characteristics of the carriers.