PDRs4All XXIII. JWST-MIRI template spectra of PAHs in the Orion Bar obtained with blind signal separation
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The aromatic infrared bands (AIBs) are observed in a wide variety of astrophysical sources, and now in unprecedented detail by the James Webb space telescope (JWST). These bands are generally attributed to the emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Our aim is to extract mid-infrared AIB template spectra from JWST observations of the Orion Bar photo-dissociation region that can be used to derive PAH properties from observations of other objects. We used the JWST MIRI-MRS observations from the PDRs4All program. We first isolated the AIBs from the data using a multi-component fitting approach. We then applied a non-negative matrix factorization to the isolated AIB spectra and extracted two templates, named AIBirrad and AIBshield following previous work. The spatial distribution and spectral characteristics of these two spectra suggest that they originate from two chemical distinct populations. We interpret AIBirrad as emission originating from a PAH population strongly exposed to ultra-violet (UV) radiation and mainly composed of large, compact ionized PAHs. Conversely, AIBshield is interpreted as originating from a more shielded population of PAHs, which is less exposed to the UV by being more embedded in the cloud. This population consists of small, asymmetric and mainly neutral PAHs with bonded aliphatic side groups. These templates can serve to analyze PAH emission in a wide variety of objects observed with MIRI-MRS.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National d'Études Spatiales, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, Ames Research Center, Centro de Astrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Física Fundamental, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, The University of Tokyo, Western University, Space Telescope Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, College Park, Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space Telescope Science Institute, San José State University, European Commission, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Ames Research Center, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Canadian Space Agency, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Awards: G103270039, G1152523013, G121809054, G1397962376, G1622782223, G1864822484, G1981317072, G2309174360, G256731684, G2660406951, G2790829181, G3193655666, G3518538256, G4408147216, G5512314486, G5568641063, G5934669618, G5950425101, G745419941, 古代説話における諸寺縁起の研究, G8333636390, G8920660035, G897484643
OpenAlex ID: W7222170948