Detection of the Mid-Infrared Unidentified Bands in the Diffuse Galactic Emission by IRTS
Abstract
This letter presents the first results of the mid-infrared spectrum (4.5--11.7 mu m) of the diffuse emission near to the galactic plane (l ~ 50(deg) ; |b| <= 5(deg) ) obtained by the mid-infrared spectrometer on board the Infrared Telescope in Space mission. The results clearly demonstrate the presence of unidentified infrared emission (UIR) bands at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 mu m in the diffuse galactic emission. The distribution of the UIR bands correlates well with the IRAS 100 mu m map, suggesting that the UIR-band emitting material is well mixed with the classical dust grains in general interstellar space. The present results indicate that more than 70% of the IRAS 12 mu m flux diffuse emission is emitted in the spectral range 8--11.7 mu m, and that most of the 12 mu m excess comes from the features associated with the UIR bands.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
- Pub Date:
- October 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1093/pasj/48.5.L59
- Bibcode:
- 1996PASJ...48L..59O
- Keywords:
-
- INFRARED: DIFFUSE EMISSION;
- INFRARED: SPECTRA;
- INTERSTELLAR: DUST;
- SPACECRAFT