GBT21A-250

MUSTANG-2 SFRS: 3mm Maps of Star Formation in Nearby Galaxies

Abstract

The increased number of high-frequency (> 30 GHz) radio observations are unveiling the complexity and diversity of radio spectra among (and within) galaxies, along with the associated difficulties in interpreting such measurements. We propose to address this by using 14hr of GBT time to create MUSTANG-2/90GHz maps for more than ~30 star-forming regions within a representative sub-sample of 12 late-type galaxies included in the Star Formation in Radio Survey (SFRS). When complemented with existing VLA 3, 15, and 33GHz data from SFRS, these new MUSTANG-2 data will critically pin down the spectra where nearly pure free-free emission is expected, allowing us to create robust spectral index maps and properly separate free-free emission from other components (i.e., synchrotron, AME, and thermal dust) on sub-kpc scales. Given the wealth of existing space- and ground-based ancillary data for these sources, these new 90GHz maps will allow us to (1) characterize the physical conditions for star formation in a large, heterogenous sample, (2) help unveil the physics of anomalous microwave emission for existing and new detections, and (3) create a library of radio spectra on sub-kpc scales that will be critical for interpreting radio spectra of high-z objects, where less data is available.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Eric Murphy *	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Virginia, University of; California Institute of Technology
Brian Mason	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Sean Linden	Arizona, University of
Charles Romero	Pennsylvania, University of; Virginia, University of; Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Tony Mroczkowski	European Southern Observatory; Institut de Ciències de l'Espai
Simon Dicker	Pennsylvania, University of
Eric Faustino Jimnez-Andrade	México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
Jean Turner	California at Los Angeles, University of; California at Los Angeles, University of
Abigail Harden	Agnes Scott College
Emmanuel Momjian	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Brandon Hensley	Princeton University
Eva Schinnerer	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
Bruce Draine	Princeton University
Mark Devlin	Pennsylvania, University of
Sara Stanchfield	Pennsylvania, University of
Jonathan Sievers	Toronto, University of; McGill University; Princeton University; KwaZulu-Natal, University of
Dillon Dong	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; California Institute of Technology

* indicates the PI