James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

Arxiv: JWST Observations of Starbursts: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emission at the Base of the M 82 Galactic Wind Published: 1/30/2024 2:42:41 AM Updated: 1/31/2024 6:11:28 PM

Paper abstract: We present new observations of the central 1 kpc of the M 82 starburstobtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared camera(NIRCam) instrument at a resolution ~0.05"-0.1" (~1-2 pc). The data comprisesimages in three mostly continuum filters (F140M, F250M, and F360M), and filtersthat contain [FeII] (F164N), H2 v=1-0 (F212N), and the 3.3 um PAH feature(F335M). We find prominent plumes of PAH emission extending outward from thecentral starburst region, together with a network of complex filamentarysubstructure and edge-brightened bubble-like features. The structure of the PAHemission closely resembles that of the ionized gas, as revealed in Paschenalpha and free-free radio emission. We discuss the origin of the structure, andsuggest the PAHs are embedded in a combination of neutral, molecular, andphotoionized gas.