One-Stop Shopping: Pan-Metallicity PAH Benchmarking in M101

We propose using 23 hours of JWST time to pin down the factors driving PAH variation, especially with respect to metallicity, via a comprehensive multi-parameter benchmarking M101. We will use MIRI and NIRCam imaging to map the strengths of the 3.3, 7.7, and 11.3 um PAH emission features across 6 fields in M101. M101 provides an unparalleled 'controlled laboratory' for this investigation, and has exquisite ancillary data. Our fields sample 0.93 dex in metallicity, 1.6 dex in neutral gas surface density, 2.6 dex in ionized gas surface density, and 3.0 dex in UV radiation field strength. Our selection of 11 filters will provide > 3500 measurements of each feature strength at S/N > 10, with 2'' resolution, giving us the statistical power to disentangle the phenomena driving PAH evolution. With this data, will be able to tackle open questions about the formation, evolution, and destruction of PAHs; and test existing models in a uniquely wide range of environments.