Spitzer Space Telescope - Archive Research Proposal #20423


A Chandra-Spitzer Study of Low Luminosity AGN in a Sample of Nearby
Normal Early-type Galaxies

Principal Investigator: William Forman
           Institution: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Co-Investigators: 
Christine Jones, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                
Michael Pahre, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                  
Eugene Churazov, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics                

Science Category: nearby galaxies (z<0.05, v_sys<15,000 km/s) 
Dollars Approved: 47530.0 

Abstract:
The high angular resolution and sensitivity of the Spitzer instruments
enable us to undertake a study of low luminosity AGN and warm dust in
a sample of 103 "normal" elliptical and lenticular galaxies for which
we have measured the X-ray luminosity of the AGN and the extent and
mass of the hot X-ray gas with Chandra observations.  With the Spitzer
and Chandra observations, supplemented by radio fluxes and optical
spectroscopy, we will determine the contribution of IR and X-ray
emission to the bolometric luminosity of low luminosity AGN as a
function of luminosity and test if the spectral energy distribution is
consistent with that predicted by RIAF models.  We will use the IRAC
and MIPS colors to characterize and help classify the low luminosity
AGN.  We will determine if the luminosity of the AGN is affected by
either the presence of cool IR emitting material or the cooling rate
of the hot gas.  We will compare the rate at which cooling gas forms
new stars with the amount of recent star formation estimated from
Spitzer images.  We also will map the distribution of warm dust and
compare that with the mass and distribution of hot gas to study the
coexistence of hot gas and dust in galaxy cores.  In addition to this
archival proposal to analyze the 45 early-type galaxies, we also have
proposed Spitzer IRAC and MIPS observations of 58 galaxies (C.  Jones
- PI) to complete the Chandra-Spitzer sample of 103 early type
galaxies.