Jessica Sutter
A5063508193- Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Computational Physics and Python Applications
- Nuclear physics research studies
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
- Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Water Quality Monitoring and Analysis
- Experimental Learning in Engineering
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
Ames Research Center
2022-2024
University of California, San Diego
2022-2024
Whitman College
2024
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2023
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam
2023
Universidad Católica Santo Domingo
2023
University of Wyoming
2016-2021
Wyoming Department of Education
2017
The PHANGS collaboration has been building a reference dataset for the multi-scale, multi-phase study of star formation and interstellar medium in nearby galaxies. With successful launch commissioning JWST, we can now obtain high-resolution infrared imaging to probe youngest stellar populations dust emission on scales clusters molecular clouds ($\sim$5-50 pc). In Cycle 1, is conducting an 8-band survey from 2-21$\mu$m 19 spiral CO(2-1) mapping, optical integral field spectroscopy, UV-optical...
Abstract The structure and chemistry of the dusty interstellar medium (ISM) are shaped by complex processes that depend on local radiation field, gas composition, dust grain properties. Of particular importance polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which emit strong vibrational bands in mid-infrared, play a key role ISM energy balance. We recently identified global correlations between PAH band optical line ratios across three nearby galaxies, suggesting connection heating ionization...
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) play a critical role in the reprocessing of stellar radiation and balancing heating cooling processes interstellar medium but appear to be destroyed H ii regions. However, mechanisms driving their destruction are still not completely understood. Using PHANGS–JWST PHANGS–MUSE observations, we investigate how PAH fraction changes about 1500 regions across four nearby star-forming galaxies (NGC 628, NGC 1365, 7496, IC 5332). We find strong...
Abstract We present maps tracing the fraction of dust in form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) IC 5332, NGC 628, 1365, and 7496 from JWST/MIRI observations. trace PAH by combining F770W (7.7 μ m) F1130W (11.3 filters to track ionized neutral emission, respectively, comparing emission F2100W, which traces small, hot grains. find average R = (F770W + F1130W)/F2100W values 3.3, 4.7, 5.1, 3.6 7496, respectively. that H ii regions traced MUSE α show a systematically low fraction. The...
Abstract Ratios of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) vibrational bands are a promising tool for measuring the properties PAH population and their effect on star formation. The photometric MIRI NIRCam instruments JWST provide opportunity to measure emission features across entire galaxy disks at unprecedented resolution sensitivity. Here we present first results this analysis in sample three nearby galaxies: NGC 628, 1365, 7496. Based variations observed 3.3, 7.7, 11.3 μ m features, infer...
Abstract We present maps of the 3.3 μ m polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission feature in NGC 628, 1365, and 7496 as observed with Near-Infrared Camera imager on JWST from PHANGS–JWST Cycle 1 Treasury project. create that isolate PAH F335M filter (F335M ) using combinations F300M F360M filters for removal starlight continuum. This continuum is complicated by contamination variations stellar spectral energy distribution slopes between 3.0 3.6 m. modify empirical prescription Lai et...
JWST observations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission provide some the deepest and highest resolution views cold interstellar medium (ISM) in nearby galaxies. If PAHs are well mixed with atomic molecular gas illuminated by average diffuse radiation field, PAH may an approximately linear, high resolution, sensitivity tracer surface density. We present a pilot study that explores using this way based on MIRI IC 5332, NGC 628, 1365, 7496 from PHANGS-JWST Treasury. Using scaling...
We present a comparison of theoretical predictions dust continuum and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission with new JWST observations in three nearby galaxies: NGC 628, 1365, 7496. Our analysis focuses on total 1063 compact stellar clusters 2654 associations previously characterized by HST the galaxies. find that distributions trends observed PAH-focused infrared colors generally agree expectations, bulk is more aligned models larger, ionized PAHs. These data usher era probing...
Abstract The exquisite angular resolution and sensitivity of JWST are opening a new window for our understanding the Universe. In nearby galaxies, observations revolutionizing first phases star formation dusty interstellar medium. Nineteen local galaxies spanning range properties morphologies across star-forming main sequence have been observed as part PHANGS-JWST Cycle 1 Treasury program at spatial scales ∼5–50 pc. Here, we describe pjpipe , an image-processing pipeline developed that wraps...
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a ubiquitous component of the interstellar medium (ISM) in z ∼ 0 massive, star-forming galaxies and play key roles ISM energy balance, chemistry, shielding. Wide field-of-view, high-resolution mid-infrared (MIR) images from JWST provide ability to map fraction dust form PAHs properties these grains at 10–50 pc resolution outside Local Group. We use MIR photometric observations sample 19 nearby Physics High Angular Resolution Nearby...
Abstract The PHANGS survey uses Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, Hubble Space Telescope, Very and JWST to obtain an unprecedented high-resolution view of nearby galaxies, covering millions spatially independent regions. high dimensionality such a diverse multiwavelength data set makes it challenging identify new trends, particularly when they connect observables from different wavelengths. Here, we use unsupervised machine-learning algorithms mine this information-rich novel...
We present a comparison of observed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature ratios in 19 nearby galaxies with grid theoretical expectations for near- and mid-infrared dust emission. The PAH are drawn from Cycle 1 JWST observations measured 7224 stellar clusters 29176 associations which we have robust ages mass estimates HST five-band photometry. Though there galaxy-to-galaxy variations, the largely agree models, particularly those that skewed toward more ionized larger size...
Radiation pressure is a key mechanism by which stellar feedback disrupts molecular clouds and drives HII region expansion. This includes direct radiation exerted UV photons on dust grains, associated with photoionization, infrared (IR) grains due to dust-reprocessed IR photons. We present new method that combines high resolution mid-IR luminosities from JWST-MIRI, optical attenuation nebular line measurements VLT-MUSE, HST H$\alpha$-based sizes estimate the strength of in $\approx 18,000$...
Abstract We present a comparison of observed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature ratios in 19 nearby galaxies with grid theoretical expectations for near- and mid-infrared dust emission. The PAH are drawn from Cycle 1 JWST observations measured 7224 stellar clusters 29,176 associations which we have robust ages mass estimates Hubble Space Telescope five-band photometry. Though there galaxy-to-galaxy variations, the largely agree models, particularly those that skewed toward more...
Abstract JWST observations, when combined with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data, promise to improve age estimates of star clusters in nearby spiral galaxies. However, feedback from young cluster stars pushes out the natal gas and dust, making formation evolution a challenge model. Here, we use JWST+ HST observations galaxy NGC 628 produce spectral energy distribution (SED) templates compact spanning 275 nm through 21 μ m. These preliminary SEDs capture associated dust within radii ≈0...
Abstract Radiation pressure is a key mechanism by which stellar feedback disrupts molecular clouds and drives H ii region expansion. This includes direct radiation exerted UV photons on dust grains, associated with photoionization, infrared (IR) grains due to dust-reprocessed IR photons. We present new method that combines high-resolution mid-IR luminosities from JWST-MIRI, optical attenuation, nebular line measurements the Very Large Telecope Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (VLT-MUSE),...
Measurements of the star formation activity on cloud scales are fundamental to uncovering physics molecular cloud, formation, and stellar feedback cycle in galaxies. Infrared (IR) emission from small dust grains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is widely used trace obscured component formation. However, relation between these features attenuation complicated by combined effects heating old populations an uncertain geometry with respect sources. We images obtained NIRCam MIRI as part...
Abstract High-resolution JWST-MIRI images of nearby spiral galaxies reveal emission with complex substructures that trace dust heated both by massive young stars and the diffuse interstellar radiation field. We present high angular (0.″85) physical resolution (20–80 pc) measurements probability distribution function (PDF) mid-infrared (mid-IR) (7.7–21 μ m) from 19 star-forming PHANGS-JWST Cycle 1 Treasury. The PDFs mid-IR disks all consistently show two distinct components: an approximately...
The brightest observed emission line in many star-forming galaxies is the [CII] 158 micron line, making it detectable up to z~7. In order better understand and quantify as a tracer of star-formation, theoretical ratio between [NII] 205 has been employed empirically determine fraction that originates from ionized neutral phases ISM. Sub-kiloparsec measurements nearby have recently become available part Key Insights Nearby Galaxies: Far Infrared Survey with Herschel (KINGFISH) Beyond Peak...
We present the Census of Local Universe (CLU) narrow-band survey to search for emission-line (\ha) galaxies. CLU-\ha~has imaged $\approx$3$\pi$ sky (26,470~deg$^2$) with 4 filters that probe a distance out 200~Mpc. have obtained spectroscopic follow-up galaxy candidates in 14 preliminary fields (101.6~deg$^2$) characterize limits and completeness survey. In these fields, CLU can identify emission lines down an \ha~flux limit $10^{-14}$~$\rm{erg~s^{-1}~cm^{-2}}$ at 90\% completeness, recovers...
Abstract The spatially resolved star formation histories are studied for 32 normal star-forming galaxies drawn from the Spitzer Extended Disk Galaxy Exploration Science survey. At surface brightness sensitivities fainter than 28 mag arcsec −2 , new optical photometry is deep enough to complement archival ultraviolet and infrared imaging explore properties of emission well beyond traditional extents these nearby galaxies. Fits spectral energy distributions using a delayed history model...
Abstract We present the [C ii ] 157.7 μ m map of galaxy NGC 7331 obtained with Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer on board Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). This extends an existent Herschel/Photodetector Array Camera and observation central strip to encompass entire molecular ring much disk, including multiple spiral arms intense far-IR emission. also Herschel archival data [N 205 line, which covers a substantial part SOFIA observations allows us estimate...
We present resolved $3.6-250~\mu$m dust spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting for $\sim 800$ nearby galaxies. measure the of radiation field intensities heating dust, mass surface density ($\Sigma_{\rm d}$), and fraction in form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; $q_{\rm PAH}$). find that average interstellar ($\overline{U}$) is correlated both with stellar ($\Sigma_{\star}$) star formation rate SFR}$), while more intense fields are only $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$. show PAH}$ a steeply...