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We provide a detailed description of the Herschel-SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) Spectral Feature Finder (FF). The FF is an automated process designed to extract significant spectral features from SPIRE FTS data products. Optimising the number of features found in SPIRE-FTS spectra is challenging. The wide SPIRE-FTS frequency range (447-1568 GHz) leads to many molecular species and atomic fine structure lines falling within the observed bands. As the best spectral resolution of the SPIRE-FTS is ~1.2 GHz, there can be significant line blending, depending on the source type. In order to find, both efficiently and reliably, features in spectra associated with a wide range of sources, the FF iteratively searches for peaks over a number of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) thresholds. For each threshold, newly identified features are rigorously checked before being added to the fitting model. At the end of each iteration, the FF simultaneously fits the continuum and features found, with the resulting residual spectrum used in the next iteration. The final FF products report the frequency of the features found and the associated SNRs. Line flux determination is not included as part of the FF products, as extracting reliable line flux from SPIRE-FTS data is a complex process that requires careful evaluation and analysis of the spectra on a case-by-case basis. The FF results are 100% complete for features with SNR greater than 10 and 50-70% complete at SNR of 5. The FF code and all FF products are publicly available via the Herschel Science Archive., Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, 8 tables, final version accepted by MNRAS June 2020

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., Comment: 39 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS. For extra pptx slides prepared for this work, please see http://www.eso.org/~zzhang/download/FTS_SMG_survey_ZhiyuZhang.pdf

Aims. We investigate the spatial distribution of a collection of absorbing gas clouds, some associated with the dense, massive star-forming core NGC6334 I, and others with diffuse foreground clouds. For the former category, we aim to study the dynamical properties of the clouds in order to assess their potential to feed the accreting protostellar cores. Methods. We use spectral imaging from the Herschel SPIRE iFTS to construct a map of HF absorption at 243 micron in a 6x3.5 arcmin region surrounding NGC6334 I and I(N). Results. The combination of new, spatially fully sampled, but spectrally unresolved mapping with a previous, single-pointing, spectrally resolved HF signature yields a 3D picture of absorbing gas clouds in the direction of NGC6334. Toward core I, the HF equivalent width matches that of the spectrally resolved observation. The distribution of HF absorption is consistent with three of the seven components being associated with this dense star-forming envelope. For two of the remaining four components, our data suggest that these clouds are spatially associated with the larger scale filamentary star-forming complex. Our data also implies a lack of gas phase HF in the envelope of core I(N). Using a simple description of adsorption onto and desorption from dust grain surfaces, we show that the overall lower temperature of the envelope of source I(N) is consistent with freeze-out of HF, while it remains in the gas phase in source I. Conclusions. We use the HF molecule as a tracer of column density in diffuse gas (n(H) ~ 10^2 - 10^3 cm^-3), and find that it may uniquely trace a relatively low density portion of the gas reservoir available for star formation that otherwise escapes detection. At higher densities prevailing in protostellar envelopes (>10^4 cm^-3), we find evidence of HF depletion from the gas phase under sufficiently cold conditions., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

(Ultra) Luminous Infrared Galaxies ((U)LIRGs) are objects characterized by their extreme infrared (8-1000 $\mu$m) luminosities ($L_{LIRG}>10^{11} $L$_\odot$ and $L_{ULIRG}>10^{12}$ L$_\odot$). The Herschel Comprehensive ULIRG Emission Survey (HerCULES; PI van der Werf) presents a representative flux-limited sample of 29 (U)LIRGs that spans the full luminosity range of these objects (10$^{11}\leq L_\odot \geq10^{13}$). With the \emph{Herschel Space Observatory}, we observe [CII] 157 $\mu$m, [OI] 63 $\mu$m, and [OI] 145 $\mu$m line emission with PACS, CO J=4-3 through J=13-12, [CI] 370 $\mu$m, and [CI] 609 $\mu$m with SPIRE, and low-J CO transitions with ground-based telescopes. The CO ladders of the sample are separated into three classes based on their excitation level. In 13 of the galaxies, the [OI] 63 $\mu$m emission line is self absorbed. Comparing the CO excitation to the IRAS 60/100 $\mu$m ratio and to far infrared luminosity, we find that the CO excitation is more correlated to the far infrared colors. We present cooling budgets for the galaxies and find fine-structure line flux deficits in the [CII], [SiII], [OI], and [CI] lines in the objects with the highest far IR fluxes, but do not observe this for CO $4\leq J_{upp}\leq13$. In order to study the heating of the molecular gas, we present a combination of three diagnostic quantities to help determine the dominant heating source. Using the CO excitation, the CO J=1-0 linewidth, and the AGN contribution, we conclude that galaxies with large CO linewidths always have high-excitation CO ladders, and often low AGN contributions, suggesting that mechanical heating is important.

The determination of the physical conditions in molecular clouds is a key step towards our understanding of their formation and evolution of associated star formation. We investigate the density, temperature, and column density of both dust and gas in the photodissociation regions (PDRs) located at the interface between the atomic and cold molecular gas of the NGC 7023 reflection nebula. We study how young stars affect the gas and dust in their environment. Our approach combining both dust and gas delivers strong constraints on the physical conditions of the PDRs. We find dense and warm molecular gas of high column density in the PDRs., Comment: Abstract shortened

Molecular gas constitutes the dominant mass component of protoplanetary discs. To date, these sources have not been studied comprehensively at the longest far-infrared and shortest submillimetre wavelengths. This paper presents Herschel SPIRE FTS spectroscopic observations toward 18 protoplanetary discs, covering the entire 450-1540 GHz (666-195 $\mu$m) range at R~400-1300. The spectra reveal clear detections of the dust continuum and, in six targets, a significant amount of spectral line emission primarily attributable to $^{12}$CO rotational lines. Other targets exhibit little to no detectable spectral lines. Low signal-to-noise detections also include signatures from $^{13}$CO, [CI] and HCN. For completeness, we present upper limits of non-detected lines in all targets, including low-energy transitions of H2O and CH$^+$ molecules. The ten $^{12}$CO lines that fall within the SPIRE FTS bands trace energy levels of ~50-500 K. Combined with lower and higher energy lines from the literature, we compare the CO rotational line energy distribution with detailed physical-chemical models, for sources where these are available and published. Our 13CO line detections in the disc around Herbig Be star HD 100546 exceed, by factors of ~10-30, the values predicted by a model that matches a wealth of other observational constraints, including the SPIRE $^{12}$CO ladder. To explain the observed $^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO ratio, it may be necessary to consider the combined effects of optical depth and isotope selective (photo)chemical processes. Considering the full sample of 18 objects, we find that the strongest line emission is observed in discs around Herbig Ae/Be stars, although not all show line emission. In addition, two of the six T Tauri objects exhibit detectable $^{12}$CO lines in the SPIRE range., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 17 pages, 6 figures

We present FIR-CO luminosity relations ($\log L_{\rm FIR} = \alpha \log L'_{\rm CO} + \beta$) for the full CO rotational ladder from J=1-0 to J=13-12 for 62 local (z < 0.1) (Ultra) Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) using data from Herschel SPIRE-FTS and ground-based telescopes. We extend our sample to high redshifts (z > 1) by including 35 (sub)-millimeter selected dusty star forming galaxies from the literature with robust CO observations. The addition of luminous starbursts at high redshifts enlarge the range of the FIR-CO luminosity relations towards the high-IR-luminosity end while also significantly increasing the small amount of mid-/high-J CO line data available prior to Herschel. This new data-set (both in terms of IR luminosity and J-ladder) reveals linear FIR-CO luminosity relations ($\alpha \sim 1$) for J=1-0 up to J=5-4, with a nearly constant normalisation ($\beta \sim 2$). This is expected from the (also) linear FIR-(molecular line) relations found for the dense gas tracer lines (HCN and CS), as long as the dense gas mass fraction does not vary strongly within our (merger/starburst)-dominated sample. However from J=6-5 and up to J=13-12 we find an increasingly sub-linear slope and higher normalization constant with increasing J. We argue that these are caused by a warm (~100K) and dense ($>10^4{\rm cm^{-3}}$) gas component whose thermal state is unlikely to be maintained by star formation powered far-UV radiation fields (and thus is no longer directly tied to the star formation rate). We suggest that mechanical heating (e.g., supernova driven turbulence and shocks), and not cosmic rays, is the more likely source of energy for this component. The global CO spectral line energy distributions (SLEDs), which remain highly excited from J=6-5 up to J=13-12, are found to be a generic feature of the (U)LIRGs in our sample, and further support the presence of this gas component., Comment: (18 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ)

We present Herschel SPIRE FTS spectroscopy of the nearby luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6240. In total 20 lines are detected, including CO J=4-3 through J=13-12, 6 H2O rotational lines, and [CI] and [NII] fine-structure lines. The CO to continuum luminosity ratio is 10 times higher in NGC 6240 than Mrk 231. Although the CO ladders of NGC 6240 and Mrk 231 are very similar, UV and/or X-ray irradiation are unlikely to be responsible for the excitation of the gas in NGC 6240. We applied both C and J shock models to the H2 v=1-0 S(1) and v=2-1 S(1) lines and the CO rotational ladder. The CO ladder is best reproduced by a model with shock velocity v_s=10 km s^-1 and a pre-shock density n_H=5 * 10^4 cm^-3. We find that the solution best fitting the H2 lines is degenerate: The shock velocities and number densities range between v_s = 17 - 47 km s^-1 and n_H=10^7 - 5 * 10^4 cm^-3, respectively. The H2 lines thus need a much more powerful shock than the CO lines. We deduce that most of the gas is currently moderately stirred up by slow (10 km s^-1) shocks while only a small fraction (< 1 percent) of the ISM is exposed to the high velocity shocks. This implies that the gas is rapidly loosing its highly turbulent motions. We argue that a high CO line-to-continuum ratio is a key diagnostic for the presence of shocks., Comment: Accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letters

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., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Special Issue on Herschel first results

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., Comment: Accepted by A&A, to be published on the Herschel A&A Special Issue. 5 pages, 5 figures.

We present far-infrared spectra and maps of the DR21 molecular cloud core between 196 and 671 microns, using the Herschel-SPIRE spectrometer. Nineteen molecular lines originating from CO, 13CO, HCO+ and H2O, plus lines of [N II] and [CI] were recorded, including several transitions not previously detected. The CO lines are excited in warm gas with Tkin ~ 125 K and nH2 ~ 7 x 10^4 cm-3, CO column density N(CO) ~ 3.5 x 10^18 cm^-2 and a filling factor of ~ 12%, and appear to trace gas associated with an outflow. The rotational temperature analysis incorporating observations from ground-based telescopes reveals an additional lower excitation CO compoment which has a temperature ~ 78 K and N(CO) ~ 4.5 x 10^21 cm^-2. Astronomy & Astrophysics HERSCHEL special Issue, in press., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures

We present a power spectrum analysis of the Herschel-SPIRE observations of the Polaris flare, a high Galactic latitude cirrus cloud midway between the diffuse and molecular phases. The SPIRE images of the Polaris flare reveal for the first time the structure of the diffuse interstellar medium down to 0.01 parsec over a 10 square degrees region. These exceptional observations highlight the highly filamentary and clumpy structure of the interstellar medium even in diffuse regions of the map. The power spectrum analysis shows that the structure of the interstellar medium is well described by a single power law with an exponent of -2.7 +- 0.1 at all scales from 30" to 8 degrees. That the power spectrum slope of the dust emission is constant down to the SPIRE angular resolution is an indication that the inertial range of turbulence extends down to the 0.01 pc scale. The power spectrum analysis also allows the identification of a Poissonian component at sub-arcminute scales in agreement with predictions of the cosmic infrared background level at SPIRE wavelengths. Finally, the comparison of the SPIRE and IRAS 100 micron data of the Polaris flare clearly assesses the capability of SPIRE in maping diffuse emission over large areas., Comment: A&A accepted - updated authors list

Aims. To follow the species chemistry arising in diverse sources of the Galaxy with Herschel. Methods. SPIRE FTS sparse sampled maps of the Orion bar & compact HII regions G29.96-0.02 and G32.80+0.19 have been analyzed. Results. Beyond the wealth of atomic and molecular lines detected in the high-resolution spectra obtained with the FTS of SPIRE in the Orion Bar, one emission line is found to lie at the position of the fundamental rotational transition of CH+ as measured precisely in the laboratory (Pearson & Drouion 2006). This coincidence suggests that it is the first detection of the fundamental rotational transition of CH+. This claim is strengthened by the observation of the lambda doublet transitions arising from its relative, CH, which are also observed in the same spectrum. The broad spectral coverage of the SPIRE FTS allows for the simultaneous measurement of these closely related chemically species, under the same observing conditions. The importance of these lines are discussed and a comparison with results obtained from models of the Photon Dominated Region (PDR) of Orion are presented. The CH+ line also appears in absorption in the spectra of the two galactic compact HII regions G29.96-0.02 and G32.80+0.19, which is likely due to the presence of CH+ in the the Cold Neutral Medium of the galactic plane. These detections will shed light on the formation processes and on the existence of CH+, which are still outstanding questions in astrophysics., Comment: Accepted for publication in the A&A Herschel first results Special Issue

We use the SPIRE Fourier-Transform Spectrometer (FTS) on-board the ESA Herschel Space Telescope to analyse the submillimetre spectrum of the Ultra-compact HII region G29.96-0.02. Spectral lines from species including 13CO, CO, [CI], and [NII] are detected. A sparse map of the [NII] emission shows at least one other HII region neighbouring the clump containing the UCHII. The FTS spectra are combined with ISO SWS and LWS spectra and fluxes from the literature to present a detailed spectrum of the source spanning three orders of magnitude in wavelength. The quality of the spectrum longwards of 100 {\mu}m allows us to fit a single temperature greybody with temperature 80.3\pm0.6K and dust emissivity index 1.73\pm0.02, an accuracy rarely obtained with previous instruments. We estimate a mass of 1500 Msol for the clump containing the HII region. The clump's bolometeric luminosity of 4 x 10^6 Lsol is comparable to, or slightly greater than, the known O-star powering the UCHII region., Comment: 5 pages including affiliations, 4 figures, accepted by A&A

Context. RCW 120 is a well-studied, nearby Galactic HII region with ongoing star formation in its surroundings. Previous work has shown that it displays a bubble morphology at mid-infrared wavelengths and has a massive layer of collected neutral material seen at sub-mm wavelengths. Given the well-defined photo-dissociation region (PDR) boundary and collected layer, it is an excellent laboratory to study the "collect and collapse" process of triggered star formation. Using Herschel Space Observatory data at 100, 160, 250, 350, and 500 micron, in combination with Spitzer and APEX-LABOCA data, we can for the first time map the entire spectral energy distribution of an HII region at high angular resolution. Aims. We seek a better understanding of RCW120 and its local environment by analysing its dust temperature distribution. Additionally, we wish to understand how the dust emissivity index, beta, is related to the dust temperature. Methods. We determine dust temperatures in selected regions of the RCW 120 field by fitting their spectral energy distribution (SED), derived using aperture photometry. Additionally, we fit the SED extracted from a grid of positions to create a temperature map. Results. We find a gradient in dust temperature, ranging from >30 K in the interior of RCW 120, to ~20K for the material collected in the PDR, to ~10K toward local infrared dark clouds and cold filaments. Our results suggest that RCW 120 is in the process of destroying the PDR delineating its bubble morphology. The leaked radiation from its interior may influence the creation of the next generation of stars. We find support for an anti-correlation between the fitted temperature and beta, in rough agreement with what has been found previously. The extended wavelength coverage of the Herschel data greatly increases the reliability of this result., Comment: Accepted to A&A as part of the Herschel special issue