In this era of spatially resolved observations of planet forming disks with ALMA and large ground-based telescopes such as the VLT, Keck and Subaru, we still lack statistically relevant information on the quantity and composition of the material that is building the planets, such as the total disk gas mass, the ice content of dust, and the state of water in planetesimals. SPICA is an infrared space mission concept developed jointly by JAXA and ESA to address these questions. The key unique capabilities of SPICA that enable this research are (1) the wide spectral coverage 10-220 micron, (2) the high line detection sensitivity of (1-2) 10-19 W m-2 with R 2000-5000 in the far-IR (SAFARI) and 10-20 W m-2 with R 29000 in the mid-IR (SMI, spectrally resolving line profiles), (3) the high far-IR continuum sensitivity of 0.45 mJy (SAFARI), and (4) the observing efficiency for point source surveys. This paper details how mid- to far-IR infrared spectra will be unique in measuring the gas masses and water/ice content of disks and how these quantities evolve during the planet forming period. These observations will clarify the crucial transition when disks exhaust their primordial gas and further planet formation requires secondary gas produced from planetesimals. The high spectral resolution mid-IR is also unique for determining the location of the snowline dividing the rocky and icy mass reservoirs within the disk and how the divide evolves during the build-up of planetary systems. Infrared spectroscopy (mid- to far-IR) of key solid state bands is crucial for assessing whether extensive radial mixing, which is part of our Solar System history, is a general process occurring in most planetary systems and whether extrasolar planetesimals are similar to our Solar System comets/asteroids. ... (abbreviated)

The most intensively star-forming galaxies are extremely luminous at far-infrared (FIR) wavelengths, highly obscured at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths, and lie at $z\ge 1-3$. We present a programme of ${\it Herschel}$ FIR spectroscopic observations with the SPIRE FTS and photometric observations with PACS, both on board ${\it Herschel}$, towards a sample of 45 gravitationally lensed, dusty starbursts across $z\sim 1-3.6$. In total, we detected 27 individual lines down to 3-$\sigma$, including nine $[\rm C{\small II}]$ 158-$\mu$m lines with confirmed spectroscopic redshifts, five possible $[\rm C{\small II}]$ lines consistent with their far-infrared photometric redshifts, and in some individual sources a few $[\rm O{\small III}]$ 88-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small III}]$ 52-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small I}]$ 145-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small I}]$ 63-$\mu$m, $[\rm N{\small II}]$ 122-$\mu$m, and OH 119-$\mu$m (in absorption) lines. To derive the typical physical properties of the gas in the sample, we stack all spectra weighted by their intrinsic luminosity and by their 500-$\mu$m flux densities, with the spectra scaled to a common redshift. In the stacked spectra, we detect emission lines of $[\rm C{\small II}]$ 158-$\mu$m, $[\rm N{\small II}]$ 122-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small III}]$ 88-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small III}]$ 52-$\mu$m, $[\rm O{\small I}]$ 63-$\mu$m, and the absorption doublet of OH at 119-$\mu$m, at high fidelity. We find that the average electron densities traced by the $[\rm N{\small II}]$ and $[\rm O{\small III}]$ lines are higher than the average values in local star-forming galaxies and ULIRGs, using the same tracers. From the $[\rm N{\small II}]/[\rm C{\small II}]$ and $[\rm O{\small I}]/[\rm C{\small II}]$ ratios, we find that the $[\rm C{\small II}]$ emission is likely dominated by the photo-dominated regions (PDR), instead of by ionised gas or large-scale shocks.

The next great leap forward in space-based far-infrared astronomy will be made by the Japanese-led SPICA mission, which is anticipated to be launched late 2020’s as the next large astrophysics mission of JAXA, in partnership with ESA and with key European contributions. Filling in the gap between JWST and ALMA, the SPICA mission will study the evolution of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. SPICA will utilize a deeply cooled 3m-class telescope, provided by European industry, to realize zodiacal background limited performance, high spatial resolution and large collecting area. Making full advantage of the deeply cooled telescope (<6K), the SAFARI instrument on SPICA is a highly sensitive wide-field imaging photometer and spectrometer operating in the 34-210 μm wavelength range. Utilizing Nyquist-sampled focal-plane arrays of very sensitive Transition Edge Sensors (TES), SAFARI will offer a photometric imaging (R ≈ 2), and a low (R = 100) and medium resolution (R = 2000 at 100 μm) imaging spectroscopy mode in three photometric bands within a 2’x2’ instantaneous FoV by means of a cryogenic Mach-Zehnder Fourier Transform Spectrometer. In this paper we will provide an overview of the SAFARI instrument design and system architecture. We will describe the reference design of the SAFARI focal- plane unit, the implementation of the various optical instrument functions designed around the central large-stroke FTS system, the photometric band definition and out-of-band filtering by quasioptical elements, the control of straylight, diffraction and thermal emission in the long-wavelength limit, and how we interface to the large-format FPA arrays at one end and the SPICA telescope assembly at the other end. We will briefly discuss the key performance drivers with special emphasis on the optical techniques adopted to overcome issues related to very low background operation of SAFARI. A summary and discussion of the expected instrument performance and an overview of the astronomical capabilities finally conclude the paper.

Context. Sh2-104 is a Galactic H ii region with a bubble morphology, detected at optical and radio wavelengths. It is considered the first observational confirmation of the collect-and-collapse model of triggered star-formation. Aims. We aim to analyze the dust and gas properties of the Sh2-104 region to better constrain its effect on local future generations of stars. In addition, we investigate the relationship between the dust emissivity index β and the dust temperature, Tdust. Methods. Using Herschel PACS and SPIRE images at 100, 160, 250, 350 and 500 μm we determine Tdust and β throughout Sh2-104, fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) obtained from aperture photometry. With the SPIRE Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) we obtained spectra at different positions in the Sh2-104 region. We detect J-ladders of 12CO and 13CO, with which we derive the gas temperature and column density. We also detect proxies of ionizing flux as the [Nii] 3P1−3P0 and [Ci] 3P2−3P1 transitions. Results. We find an average value of β ∼ 1.5 throughout Sh2-104, as well as a Tdust difference between the photodissociation region (PDR, ∼25 K) and the interior (∼40 K) of the bubble. We recover the anti-correlation between β and dust temperature reported numerous times in the literature. The relative isotopologue abundances of CO appear to be enhanced above the standard ISM values, but the obtained value is very preliminary and is still affected by large uncertainties.

The progress and results of the ongoing FP7-FISICA programme to re-asses the scientific goals of a Far-Infrared Space Interfereometer and push the development of some of its key technology elements are reported.

Context. The energetics in photo-dissociation regions (PDRs) are mainly regulated by the balance between the heating from the photo-electric effect acting on dust grains, and the cooling via the copious emission of photons in far-infrared lines. The Orion Bar is a luminous and nearby PDR, which presents to the observer an ideal edge-on orientation in which to study this energy balance. Spatially resolved studies of such a nearby system are essential as they enable us to characterise the physical processes that control the energetics of the regions and can serve as templates for distant systems where these processes cannot be disentangled.Aims. We characterise the emission of the far-infrared fine-structure lines of [CII] (158 mu m), [OI] (63 and 145 mu m), and [NII] (122 mu m) that trace the gas local conditions, via spatially resolved observations of the Orion Bar. The observed distribution and variation of the lines are discussed in relation to the underlying geometry and linked to the energetics associated with the Trapezium stars.Methods. Herschel/PACS observations are used to map the spatial distribution of these fine-structure lines across the Bar, with a spatial resolution between 4 '' and 11 '' and covering a total square area of about 120 '' x 105 ''. The spatial profile of the emission lines are modelled using the radiative transfer code Cloudy.Results. The Herschel observations reveal in unprecedented detail the morphology of the Bar. The spatial distribution of the [CII] line coincides with that of the [OI] lines. The [NII] line peaks closer to the ionising star than the other three lines, but with a small region of overlap. We can distinguish several knots of enhanced emission within the Bar indicating the presence of an inhomogenous and structured medium. The emission profiles cannot be reproduced by a single PDR, clearly indicating that, besides the Bar, there is a significant contribution from additional PDR(s) over the area studied. The combination of both the [NII] and [OI] 145 mu m lines can be used to estimate the [CII] emission and distinguish between its ionised or neutral origin. We have calculated how much [CII] emission comes from the neutral and ionised region, and find that at least similar to 82% originates from the photo-dissocciation region. Together, the [CII] 158 mu m and [OI] 63 and 145 mu m lines account for similar to 90% of the power emitted by the main cooling lines in the Bar (including CO, H-2, etc.), with [OI] 63 mu m alone accounting for 72% of the total.

We present five band imaging of the Vega debris disc obtained using the Herschel Space Observatory. These data span a wavelength range of 70−500 μm with full-width half-maximum angular resolutions of 5.6−36.9′′. The disc is well resolved in all bands, with the ring structure visible at 70 and 160 μm. Radial profiles of the disc surface brightness are produced, and a disc radius of 11′′ (∼85 AU) is determined. The disc is seen to have a smooth structure thoughout the entire wavelength range, suggesting that the disc is in a steady state, rather than being an ephemeral structure caused by the recent collision of two large planetesimals.

Context: Sh2-104 is a Galactic H ii region with a bubble morphology, detected at optical and radio wavelengths. It is considered the first observational confirmation of the collect-and-collapse model of triggered star-formation. Aims: We aim to analyze the dust and gas properties of the Sh2-104 region to better constrain its effect on local future generations of stars. In addition, we investigate the relationship between the dust emissivity index {\beta} and the dust temperature, T_dust. Methods: Using Herschel PACS and SPIRE images at 100, 160, 250, 350 and 500 {\mu}m we determine T_dust and {\beta} throughout Sh2-104, fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) obtained from aperture photometry. With the SPIRE Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) we obtained spectra at different positions in the Sh2-104 region. We detect J-ladders of CO and 13CO, with which we derive the gas temperature and column density. We also detect proxies of ionizing flux as the [NII] 3P1-3P0 and [CI] 3P2-3P1 transitions. Results: We find an average value of {\beta} ~ 1.5 throughout Sh2-104, as well as a T dust difference between the photodissociation region (PDR, ~ 25 K) and the interior (~ 40 K) of the bubble. We recover the anti-correlation between {\beta} and dust temperature reported numerous times in the literature. The relative isotopologue abundances of CO appear to be enhanced above the standard ISM values, but the obtained value is very preliminary and is still affected by large uncertainties.

We present a detailed analysis of the far-infrared (-IR) properties of the bright, lensed, z = 2.3, submillimetre-selected galaxy (SMG), SMMJ2135-0102 (hereafter SMMJ2135), using new observations with Herschel, SCUBA-2 and the Very Large Array (VLA). These data allow us to constrain the galaxy's spectral energy distribution (SED) and show that it has an intrinsic rest-frame 8-1000-mu m luminosity, L-bol, of (2.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(12) L-circle dot and a likely star-formation rate (SFR) of similar to 400 M-circle dot yr(-1). The galaxy sits on the far-IR/radio correlation for far-IR-selected galaxies. At greater than or similar to 70 mu m, the SED can be described adequately by dust components with dust temperatures, T-d similar to 30 and 60 k. Using SPIRE's Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) we report a detection of the [CII] 158 mu m cooling line. If the [CII], CO and far-IR continuum arise in photo-dissociation regions (PDRs), we derive a characteristic gas density, n similar to 10(3) cm(-3), and a far-ultraviolet (-UV) radiation field, G(0), 10(3) x stronger than the Milky Way. L-[CII]/L-bol is significantly higher than in local ultra-luminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs) but similar to the values found in local star-forming galaxies and starburst nuclei. This is consistent with SMMJ2135 being powered by starburst clumps distributed across similar to 2 kpc, evidence that SMGs are not simply scaled-up ULIRGs. Our results show that SPIRE's FTS has the ability to measure the redshifts of distant, obscured galaxies via the blind detection of atomic cooling lines, but it will not be competitive with ground-based CO-line searches. It will, however, allow detailed study of the integrated properties of high-redshift galaxies, as well as the chemistry of their interstellar medium (ISM), once more suitably bright candidates have been found.

We report on the initial analysis of a Herschel-PACS full range spectrum of Neptune, covering the 51–220 μm range with a mean resolving power of ~3000, and complemented by a dedicated observation of CH4 at 120 μm. Numerous spectral features due to HD (R(0) and R(1)), H2O, CH4, and CO are present, but so far no new species have been found. Our results indicate that (i) Neptune's mean thermal profile is warmer by ~3 K than inferred from the Voyager radio-occultation; (ii) the D/H mixing ratio is (4.5 ± 1) × 10-5, confirming the enrichment of Neptune in deuterium over the protosolar value (~2.1 × 10-5); (iii) the CH4 mixing ratio in the mid stratosphere is (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10-3, and CH4 appears to decrease in the lower stratosphere at a rate consistent with local saturation, in agreement with the scenario of CH4 stratospheric injection from Neptune's warm south polar region; (iv) the H2O stratospheric column is (2.1 ± 0.5) × 1014 cm-2 but its vertical distribution is still to be determined, so the H2O external flux remains uncertain by over an order of magnitude; and (v) the CO stratospheric abundance is about twice the tropospheric value, confirming the dual origin of CO suspected from ground-based millimeter/submillimeter observations.

Water vapour is the principle source of opacity at infrared wavelengths in the earth's atmosphere. Measurements of atmospheric water vapour serve two primary purposes when considering operation of an observatory: long-term monitoring of precipital water vapour (PWV) is useful for characterizing potential observatory sites, and real-time monitoring of PWV is useful for optimizing use, in particular for mid-IR observations.

We obtained Herschel PACS and SPIRE images of the thermal emission of the debris disk around the A5V star β Pic. The disk is well resolved in the PACS filters at 70, 100, and 160 μm. The surface brightness profiles between 70 and 160 μm show no significant asymmetries along the disk, and are compatible with 90% of the emission between 70 and 160 μm originating in a region closer than 200 AU to the star. Although only marginally resolving the debris disk, the maps obtained in the SPIRE 250–500 μm filters provide full-disk photometry, completing the SED over a few octaves in wavelength that had been previously inaccessible. The small far-infrared spectral index (β = 0.34) indicates that the grain size distribution in the inner disk (<200 AU) is inconsistent with a local collisional equilibrium. The size distribution is either modified by non-equilibrium effects, or exhibits a wavy pattern, caused by an under-abundance of impactors which have been removed by radiation pressure.

We present a full high resolution SPIRE FTS spectrum of the nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy Mrk231. In total 25 lines are detected, including CO J=5-4 through J=13-12, 7 rotational lines of H2O, 3 of OH+ and one line each of H2O+, CH+, and HF. We find that the excitation of the CO rotational levels up to J=8 can be accounted for by UV radiation from star formation. However, the approximately flat luminosity distribution of the CO lines over the rotational ladder above J=8 requires the presence of a separate source of excitation for the highest CO lines. We explore X-ray heating by the accreting supermassive black hole in Mrk231 as a source of excitation for these lines, and find that it can reproduce the observed luminosities. We also consider a model with dense gas in a strong UV radiation field to produce the highest CO lines, but find that this model strongly overpredicts the hot dust mass in Mrk231. Our favoured model consists of a star forming disk of radius 560 pc, containing clumps of dense gas exposed to strong UV radiation, dominating the emission of CO lines up to J=8. X-rays from the accreting supermassive black hole in Mrk231 dominate the excitation and chemistry of the inner disk out to a radius of 160 pc, consistent with the X-ray power of the AGN in Mrk231. The extraordinary luminosity of the OH+ and H2O+ lines reveals the signature of X-ray driven excitation and chemistry in this region.

Comet C/2006 W3 (Christensen) was observed in November 2009 at 3.3 AU from the Sun with Herschel. The PACS instrument acquired images of the dust coma in 70- and 160-micrometers filters, and spectra covering several H2O rotational lines. Spectra in the range 450-1550 GHz were acquired with SPIRE. The comet emission continuum from 70 to 672 micrometers was measured, but no lines were detected. The spectral energy distribution indicates thermal emission from large particles and provides a measure of the size distribution index and dust production rate. The upper limit to the water production rate is compared to the production rates of other species (CO, CH3OH, HCN, H2S, OH) measured with the IRAM 30-m and Nancay telescopes. The coma is found to be strongly enriched in species more volatile than water, in comparison to comets observed closer to the Sun. The CO to H2O production rate ratio exceeds 220%. The dust to gas production rate ratio is on the order of 1.

We have obtained the first continuous disk averaged spectrum of Mars from 450 to 1550 Ghz using the Herschel-SPIRE Fourier-transform spectrometer. The spectrum was obtained at a constant resolution of 1.4 GHz across the whole band. The flux from the planet is such that the instrument was operated in “bright source” mode to prevent saturation of the detectors. This was the first successful use of this mode and in this work we describe the method used for observing Mars together with a detailed discussion of the data reduction techniques required to calibrate the spectrum. We discuss the calibration accuracy obtained and describe the first comparison with surface and atmospheric models. In addition to a direct photometric measurement of the planet the spectrum contains the characteristic transitions of CO from J 5–4 to J 13–12 as well as numerous H2O transitions. Together these allow the comparison to global atmospheric models allowing the mean mixing ratios of water and CO to be investigated. We find that it is possible to match the observed depth of the absorption features in the spectrum with a fixed water mixing ratio of 1 × 10−4 and a 12CO mixing ratio of 9 × 10−4.

We present a detailed analysis of the far-infrared (-IR) properties of the bright, lensed, z = 2.3, submillimetre-selected galaxy (SMG), SMM J2135−0102 (hereafter SMM J2135), using new observations with Herschel, SCUBA-2 and the Very Large Array (VLA). These data allow us to constrain the galaxy’s spectral energy distribution (SED) and show that it has an intrinsic rest-frame 8−1000-μm luminosity, Lbol, of (2.3 ± 0.2) × 1012 L and a likely star-formation rate (SFR) of ∼400 M yr−1. The galaxy sits on the far-IR/radio correlation for far-IR-selected galaxies. At >∼70 μm, the SED can be described adequately by dust components with dust temperatures, Td ∼ 30 and 60 k. Using SPIRE’s Fouriertransform spectrometer (FTS) we report a detection of the [C ii] 158 μm cooling line. If the [C ii], CO and far-IR continuum arise in photodissociation regions (PDRs), we derive a characteristic gas density, n ∼ 103 cm−3, and a far-ultraviolet (-UV) radiation field, G0, 103× stronger than the Milky Way. L[CII]/Lbol is significantly higher than in local ultra-luminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs) but similar to the values found in local star-forming galaxies and starburst nuclei. This is consistent with SMM J2135 being powered by starburst clumps distributed across ∼2 kpc, evidence that SMGs are not simply scaled-up ULIRGs. Our results show that SPIRE’s FTS has the ability to measure the redshifts of distant, obscured galaxies via the blind detection of atomic cooling lines, but it will not be competitive with ground-based CO-line searches. It will, however, allow detailed study of the integrated properties of high-redshift galaxies, as well as the chemistry of their interstellar medium (ISM), once more suitably bright candidates have been found.

We have obtained the first continuous disk averaged spectrum of Mars from 450 to 1550 Ghz using the Herschel-SPIRE Fourier-transform spectrometer. The spectrum was obtained at a constant resolution of 1.4 GHz across the whole band. The flux from the planet is such that the instrument was operated in "bright source" mode to prevent saturation of the detectors. This was the first successful use of this mode and in this work we describe the method used for observing Mars together with a detailed discussion of the data reduction techniques required to calibrate the spectrum. We discuss the calibration accuracy obtained and describe the first comparison with surface and atmospheric models. In addition to a direct photometric measurement of the planet the spectrum contains the characteristic transitions of (CO)-C-12 from J 5-4 to J 13-12 as well as numerous H2O transitions. Together these allow the comparison to global atmospheric models allowing the mean mixing ratios of water and (CO)-C-12 to be investigated. We find that it is possible to match the observed depth of the absorption features in the spectrum with a fixed water mixing ratio of 1 x 10(-4) and a (CO)-C-12 mixing ratio of 9 x 10(-4).

Aims. We present observations of the Orion Bar photodissociation region (PDR) obtained with the SPIRE instrument on-board Herschel. Methods. We obtained SPIRE Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) sparse sampled maps of the Orion bar. Results. The FTS wavelength coverage and sensitivity allow us to detect a wealth of rotational lines of CO (and its isotopologues), fine structure lines of C and N, and emission lines from radicals and molecules such as CH, CH, H2O or H2S. For species detected from the ground, our estimates of the column densities agree with previously published values. The comparison between 12CO and 13CO maps shows particularly the effects of optical depth and excitation in the molecular cloud. The distribution of the 12CO and 13CO lines with upper energy levels indicates the presence of warm (∼100–150 K) CO. This warm CO component is a significant fraction of the total molecular gas, confirming previous ground based studies.

We present spectroscopic data and derived optical constants for a range of tissue types across the Thz range. We make use of the common collagen absorption feature at ~ 11Thz to present the imminent possibility of using an imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) as a diagnostic tool for tissue damage and repair.

Context. In photodissociation regions (PDRs), the physical conditions and the excitation evolve on short spatial scales as a function of depth within the cloud, providing a unique opportunity to study how the dust and gas populations evolve with the excitation and physical conditions. The mapping of the PDRs in NGC7023 performed during the science demonstration phase of Herschel is part of the " Evolution of interstellar dust" key program. The goal of this project is to build a coherent database on interstellar dust emission from diffuse clouds to the sites of star formation.Aims. We study the far-infrared/submillimeter emission of the PDRs and their fainter surrounding regions. We combine the Herschel and Spitzer maps to derive at each position the full emission spectrum of all dust components, which we compare to dust and radiative transfer models in order to learn about the spatial variations in both the excitation conditions and the dust properties.Methods. We adjust the emission spectra derived from PACS and SPIRE maps using modified black bodies to derive the temperature and the emissivity index beta of the dust in thermal equilibrium with the radiation field. We present a first modeling of the NGC7023-E PDR with standard dust properties and abundances.Results. At the peak positions, a value of a equal to 2 is compatible with the data. The detected spectra and the spatial structures are strongly influenced by radiative transfer effects. We are able to reproduce the spectra at the peak positions deduced from Herschel maps and emitted by dust particles at thermal equilibrium, and also the evolution of the spatial structures observed from the near infrared to the submillimeter. On the other hand, the emission of the stochastically heated smaller particles is overestimated by a factor similar to 2.