Serendipity observations of far infrared cirrus emission in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey: Analysis of far-infrared correlations

TL;DR

This study analyzes far-infrared dust emission from diffuse cirrus clouds using Spitzer observations, revealing significant color variations that suggest changes in dust properties, which are crucial for understanding interstellar medium and extragalactic observations.

Contribution

It provides one of the most sensitive, unbiased analyses of small-scale diffuse interstellar clouds in the far-infrared, highlighting the need to revise dust models.

Findings

Significant scatter in 160/100 micron colors of cirrus emission.

Observed trend of decreasing 60/100 with increasing 160/100 colors.

Current dust models cannot explain the observed color variations without modifications.

Abstract

We present an analysis of far-infrared dust emission from diffuse cirrus clouds. This study is based on serendipitous observations at 160 microns at high galactic latitude with the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope by the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). These observations are complemented with IRIS data at 100 and 60 microns and constitute one of the most sensitive and unbiased samples of far infrared observations at small scale of diffuse interstellar clouds. Outside regions dominated by the cosmic infrared background fluctuations, we observe a substantial scatter in the 160/100 colors from cirrus emission. We compared the 160/100 color variations to 60/100 colors in the same fields and find a trend of decreasing 60/100 with increasing 160/100. This trend can not be accounted for by current dust models by changing solely the interstellar radiation field. It requires a significant change of dust properties such as grain size distribution or emissivity or a mixing of clouds in different physical conditions along the line of sight. These variations are important as a potential confusing foreground for extragalactic studies.