Spitzer Space Telescope - Guaranteed Time Observer Proposal #40128


Line emission associated with the Northern inner radio lobe of Centaurus A

Principal Investigator: Mairi Brookes
           Institution: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

     Technical Contact: Mairi Brookes, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Co-Investigators: 
Charles Lawrence, JPL                                                 
Alice Quillen, Rochester                                              
Daniel Stern, JPL                                                     
Varourjan Gorjian, JPL                                                
John-David Smith, University of Arizona                               
Vassilis Charmandaris, University of Crete                            

Science Category: AGN/quasars/radio galaxies 
 Observing Modes: IrsMap 
  Hours Approved: 7.0 

Abstract:
We propose observations which will quantitatively measure the impact of high
energy jets in the radio galaxy Centaurus A upon its host galaxy NGC5128. This
will be done by searching for emission lines associated with the Northern Inner
radio lobe. SL/LL observations of the northern inner radio lobe will search for
molecular hydrogen in association with UV emission in this region which is in
excess of the jet synchrotron emission expectation, again providing constraints
on the excitation mechanism. If shocks are present it is possible that other
emission lines, such as [OIV] may be present also. This unique source offers the
opportunity to study the details of jet-host galaxy interaction in a relatively
nearby system (3.4Mpc).