Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #3316


The Small Magellanic Cloud:  A Template for the Primitive Interstellar
Medium

Principal Investigator: Alberto Bolatto
           Institution: University of California at Berkeley

Co-Investigators: 
Snezana Stanimirovic, University of California at Berkeley            
Frank Israel, Leiden Observatory                                      
James Jackson, Boston University                                      
Adam Leroy, University of California at Berkeley                      
Aigen Li, University of Arizona                                       
Ronak Shah, Boston University                                         
Joshua Simon, University of California at Berkeley                    
Lister Staveley-Smith, Australia Telescope/CSIRO                      

Science Category: local group galaxies 
 Observing Modes: IracMap MipsScan 
  Hours Approved: 48.8 

Abstract:
The Small Magellanic Cloud constitutes an excellent laboratory to
study the properties of the dust in a low metallicity environment.  We
propose to obtain images of the entire SMC in all IRAC and MIPS
wavebands, a feat only possible because of Spitzer's unparalleled
sensitivity.  With these observations we will quantify the
distribution and properties of very small grains and PAHs throughout
the SMC in relation to their environment.  These data will allow us to
constrain theoretical dust models, and provide information on the
abundance, distribution, ionization state, composition, and evolution
of PAHs and VSGs.  MIPS observations will probe the distribution of
small and large dust grains, and in combination with ground-based
observations, will be used to provide an independent estimate of the
amount of molecular gas in the SMC.  Ultimately, this research will
help constrain the properties of the ISM in primordial galaxies at
high redshifts.  The SMC images will be publicly released within 6
months of the last observations, for the benefit of the entire
astronomical community and to allow other groups to perform follow-up
observations.