Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population

dc.contributor.advisorJarrett, Thomas
dc.contributor.advisorCluver, Michelle
dc.contributor.authorAugust, Tamlyn
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-18T08:53:22Z
dc.date.available2020-02-18T08:53:22Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.date.updated2020-02-18T08:04:29Z
dc.description.abstractThis thesis aims to test the reliability of the Wide-Field Infrared Space Explorer (WISE) star formation indicators centred at 12 and 22 µm. To accomplish this, the total infrared (TIR) luminosity was used as a calibrator to understand the behaviour of the two indicators. Our sample consists of Spitzer galaxies from the SINGS and KINGFISH surveys, with a select few excluded. The TIR calibration also necessitates that most of our galaxies have FIR data from Herschel. The photometric analysis done on the raw WISE and Spitzer images of our galaxies is explained, including how the isophotes and background sky level were determined for each band/image. Once the reliability of the WISE indicators was established, new star formation rate relations were formulated. The new relations are comparable to previous relations in the literature, but improve on them in stellar mass-, metallicity-, and luminosity range. We also find that metallicity of the galaxies has minimal effect on our relations. In our comparison of emission from PAH molecules, the two bands in question, IRAC4 and W 3 are strongly correlated. This may suggest that the W3 band is dominated by emission from the 11.3 µm PAH molecule, or it might be an effect of the band overlap between IRAC4 and W3.
dc.identifier.apacitationAugust, T. (2019). <i>Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population</i>. (). ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31149en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAugust, Tamlyn. <i>"Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population."</i> ., ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31149en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAugust, T. 2019. Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - August, Tamlyn AB - This thesis aims to test the reliability of the Wide-Field Infrared Space Explorer (WISE) star formation indicators centred at 12 and 22 µm. To accomplish this, the total infrared (TIR) luminosity was used as a calibrator to understand the behaviour of the two indicators. Our sample consists of Spitzer galaxies from the SINGS and KINGFISH surveys, with a select few excluded. The TIR calibration also necessitates that most of our galaxies have FIR data from Herschel. The photometric analysis done on the raw WISE and Spitzer images of our galaxies is explained, including how the isophotes and background sky level were determined for each band/image. Once the reliability of the WISE indicators was established, new star formation rate relations were formulated. The new relations are comparable to previous relations in the literature, but improve on them in stellar mass-, metallicity-, and luminosity range. We also find that metallicity of the galaxies has minimal effect on our relations. In our comparison of emission from PAH molecules, the two bands in question, IRAC4 and W 3 are strongly correlated. This may suggest that the W3 band is dominated by emission from the 11.3 µm PAH molecule, or it might be an effect of the band overlap between IRAC4 and W3. DA - 2019 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - astronomy LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population TI - Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31149 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/31149
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAugust T. Deconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population. []. ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Astronomy, 2019 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31149en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Astronomy
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.subjectastronomy
dc.titleDeconstructing the WISE nearby galaxy population
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc
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