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Paper: ISO observations of IR color variations toward nearby molecular clouds
Volume: 132, Star Formation with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)
Page: 24
Authors: Bernard, J. P.; Abergel, A.; Boulanger, F.; Puget, J. L.; Helou, G.; Langer, W.
Abstract: Many regions of the sky exhibit important color variations in the IRAS data (in particular in the 12/100 color ratio), which are believed to trace, not only excitation conditions, but also physical properties and abundances of the smallest dust particles of the ISM. Some nearby molecular clouds even exhibit strong 12 microns haloes where the abundance of small particles, in particular Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), is strongly increased. We present recent ISOCAM observations toward such molecular cloud edges. The ISOCAM data were obtained in a set of filters well adapted to the study of the PAH features, as well as in the CVF mode for selected positions. PHOT observations in the 3.3 microns PAH feature and nearby continuum were also obtained as well as PHOT data at 90 and 180 microns and LWS data in the C^+ 158 and OI 63 microns lines, in order to test the gas heating properties of PAH through photoelectric effect. Ultimately, this complete dataset should allow a detailed understanding of the spatial distribution of the PAH physical conditions at the interface of molecular clouds.
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