Studies of Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) with the SKA

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the SKA telescope can study Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME), shedding light on its origins and the interstellar medium by measuring low-frequency spectra and detecting PAH molecules.

Contribution

It proposes using the SKA to investigate AME's emission mechanisms, including potential detection of PAH lines for identifying specific molecules.

Findings

SKA can measure the low-frequency side of AME spectrum.

Detection of PAH lines could identify specific PAH molecules.

Studying AME with SKA can reveal properties of the interstellar medium.

Abstract

In this chapter, we will outline the scientific motivation for studying Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) with the SKA. AME is thought to be due to electric dipole radiation from small spinning dust grains, although thermal fluctuations of magnetic dust grains may also contribute. Studies of this mysterious component would shed light on the emission mechanism, which then opens up a new window onto the interstellar medium (ISM). AME is emitted mostly in the frequency range $\sim 10$--100\,GHz, and thus the SKA has the potential of measuring the low frequency side of the AME spectrum, particularly in band 5. Science targets include dense molecular clouds in the Milky Way, as well as extragalactic sources. We also discuss the possibility of detecting rotational line emission from Poly-cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which could be the main carriers of AME. Detecting PAH lines of a given spacing would allow for a definitive identification of specific PAH species.