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Arxiv: A JWST/MIRI View of the ISM in M83: I. Resolved Molecular Hydrogen Properties, Star Formation, and Feedback Published: 10/11/2024 8:37:09 PM Updated: 10/11/2024 8:37:09 PM

Paper abstract: We present a spatially-resolved (~3 pc pix^{-1}) analysis of thedistribution, kinematics, and excitation of warm H2 gas in the nuclearstarburst region of M83. Our JWST/MIRI IFU spectroscopy reveals a clumpyreservoir of warm H2 (> 200 K) with a mass of ~2.3 x 10^{5} Msun in the areacovered by all four MRS channels. We additionally use the [Ne II] 12.8 {\mu}mand [Ne III] 15.5 {\mu}m lines as tracers of the star formation rate,ionizing radiation hardness, and kinematics of the ionized ISM, findingtantalizing connections to the H2 properties and to the ages of the underlyingstellar populations. Finally, qualitative comparisons to the trove of public,high-spatial-resolution multiwavelength data available on M83 shows that ourMRS spectroscopy potentially traces all stages of the process of creatingmassive star clusters, from the embedded proto-cluster phase through thedispersion of ISM from stellar feedback.