MidInfrared Spectral Diagnostics of Nearby Galaxies.pdfVIP

**FULL TITLE** ASP Conference Series, Vol. **VOLUME**, **YEAR OF PUBLICATION** **NAMES OF EDITORS** Mid-Infrared Spectral Diagnostics of Nearby Galaxies Daniel A. Dale the SINGS Team University of Wyoming 6 0 Abstract. The Spitzer Space Telescope is pushing into new frontiers in high 0 redshift astronomy. Closer to home, Spitzer is making an equally large impact 2 on our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. In this contribution we r present mid-infrared diagnostics based largely on data from the Spitzer Infrared p Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). Our main result is that these mid-infrared A diagnostics effectively constrain a target’s dominant power source. The combi- nation of a high ionization line index and PAH strength serves as an efficient 1 discriminant between AGN and star-forming nuclei, confirming progress made with ISO spectroscopy on starbursting and ultraluminous infrared galaxies. The 1 v sensitivity of Spitzer allows us to probe fainter nuclei and star-forming regions 8 within galaxy disks. We find that both star-forming nuclei and extranuclear 0 regions stand apart from nuclei that are powered by Seyfert or LINER activ- 0 ity. In fact, we identify areas within three diagnostic diagrams containing 90% 4 Seyfert/LINER nuclei or 90% H II regions/H II nuclei. We also find that, com- 0 pared to starbursting nuclei, extranuclear regions typically separate even furt