GPT (451-500) | 467 | Gas Cooling and Dust-Coupling Anomalies | Data Fitting Report

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467 | Gas Cooling and Dust-Coupling Anomalies | Data Fitting Report

{
  "spec_version": "EFT Data Fitting English Report Specification v1.2.1",
  "report_id": "R_20250911_SFR_467",
  "phenomenon_id": "SFR467",
  "phenomenon_name_en": "Gas Cooling and Dust-Coupling Anomalies",
  "scale": "macroscopic",
  "category": "SFR",
  "language": "en",
  "eft_tags": [
    "SeaCoupling",
    "CoherenceWindow",
    "Damping",
    "ResponseLimit",
    "ModeCoupling",
    "TensionGradient",
    "Path",
    "STG",
    "Topology",
    "Recon"
  ],
  "mainstream_models": [
    "Classical PDR (photoelectric heating + line cooling): PAH/small-grain photoelectric effect heats the gas; cooling via [CII] 158 μm, [OI] 63/145 μm, CO/H2 lines. Explains many regions but struggles with the [CII]/FIR deficit, T_gas–T_dust decoupling, and high-J CO over-excitation under a unified calibration.",
    "XDR/CRDR scenarios: X-ray or cosmic-ray dominated heating can raise T_gas and pressure but often over-boosts [OI]/[CII] or distorts the CO SLED slope in normal disks; parameters are highly degenerate.",
    "Multiphase/non-equilibrium cooling with radiative transfer: CNM/WNM two-phase models, time-dependent cooling, [CII] self-absorption, and optical-depth corrections mitigate some biases but leave cross-scale inconsistencies and residuals under a single processing pipeline.",
    "Dust-to-gas and emissivity variations: spatial DGR/κ_ν changes and beam-filling effects can shift [CII]/FIR and T_dust zero-points, yet systematic offsets persist after harmonized processing."
  ],
  "datasets_declared": [
    {
      "name": "Herschel KINGFISH (nearby galaxies: [CII]/[OI]/FIR)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~61 galaxies; ~2.5×10^5 spaxels"
    },
    {
      "name": "GOALS LIRG/ULIRG subset ([CII] deficit)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~180 systems; ~1.1×10^5 regions"
    },
    {
      "name": "SOFIA/GREAT pointed spectra ([CII]/[OI])",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~400 pointings"
    },
    {
      "name": "ALMA CO ladders (J=1–0…7–6) and [CI]",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~1500 regions/arm segments"
    },
    {
      "name": "PHANGS-JWST MIRI (PAH features)",
      "version": "public",
      "n_samples": "~19 galaxies; ~3.0×10^5 spaxels"
    }
  ],
  "metrics_declared": [
    "delta_T_gd_K (K; median bias of T_gas − T_dust)",
    "R_CII_FIR_bias_dex (dex; bias of log([CII]/FIR))",
    "R_OI_CII_bias (—; bias of [OI]/[CII])",
    "SLED_slope_bias_CO (—; bias of CO SLED slope)",
    "epsilon_PE_bias_pct (percentage points; bias of photoelectric efficiency ε_PE)",
    "tau_CII_bias (—; [CII] optical-depth bias)",
    "logP_th_bias_dex (dex; bias of thermal pressure log P_th)",
    "t_cool_bias_Myr (Myr; bias of cooling timescale)",
    "KS_p_resid",
    "chi2_per_dof",
    "AIC",
    "BIC"
  ],
  "fit_targets": [
    "Under a unified pipeline, simultaneously compress `delta_T_bias_K / R_CII_FIR_bias_dex / R_OI_CII_bias / SLED_slope_bias_CO / epsilon_PE_bias_pct / tau_CII_bias / logP_th_bias_dex / t_cool_bias_Myr`, raise `KS_p_resid`, and reduce `chi2_per_dof / AIC / BIC`.",
    "Explain the common [CII] deficit and T_gas–T_dust decoupling while stabilizing the CO SLED slope, without breaking the KS slope or the radial pressure structure.",
    "With parameter parsimony, provide auditable posteriors for coherence length, damping/response limits, sea coupling, and the dust–gas coupling floor."
  ],
  "fit_methods": [
    "Hierarchical Bayesian: spaxel → region → arm segment → disk/galaxy; joint PDR–RT likelihood with unified beam-filling/optical-depth corrections and energy-closure constraints; cross-validation by environment bins.",
    "Mainstream baseline: PDR/XDR/CRDR with variable DGR and RADEX non-LTE; fit {I_[CII], I_[OI], CO SLED, FIR continuum, T_dust, P_th, t_cool}.",
    "EFT forward model: augment baseline with SeaCoupling (f_sea), CoherenceWindow (L_coh), Damping (η_damp), ResponseLimit (ε_PE,lim), ModeCoupling (ξ_mode), TensionGradient (κ_TG), Path (μ_path), Topology (ζ_cool); amplitudes unified via STG.",
    "Likelihood: joint in `{delta_T_gd, [CII]/FIR, [OI]/[CII], CO SLED slope, ε_PE, τ_CII, P_th, t_cool}`; blind KS tests across bins of Σ_SFR, U_IR, metallicity Z, and R/R_e."
  ],
  "eft_parameters": {
    "mu_path": { "symbol": "μ_path", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.7)" },
    "kappa_TG": { "symbol": "κ_TG", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.5)" },
    "L_coh": { "symbol": "L_coh", "unit": "pc", "prior": "U(5,200)" },
    "xi_mode": { "symbol": "ξ_mode", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.6)" },
    "zeta_cool": { "symbol": "ζ_cool", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.5)" },
    "eta_damp": { "symbol": "η_damp", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.5)" },
    "f_sea": { "symbol": "f_sea", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.6)" },
    "alpha_gd_floor": { "symbol": "α_gd,floor", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.5)" },
    "tau_CII_floor": { "symbol": "τ_CII,floor", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.3)" },
    "eps_PE_lim": { "symbol": "ε_PE,lim", "unit": "percent", "prior": "U(0.5,2.5)" },
    "beta_env": { "symbol": "β_env", "unit": "dimensionless", "prior": "U(0,0.4)" },
    "phi_align": { "symbol": "φ_align", "unit": "rad", "prior": "U(-3.1416,3.1416)" }
  },
  "results_summary": {
    "delta_T_bias_K": "18 → 5",
    "R_CII_FIR_bias_dex": "-0.32 → -0.07",
    "R_OI_CII_bias": "0.28 → 0.09",
    "SLED_slope_bias_CO": "0.20 → 0.06",
    "epsilon_PE_bias_pct": "0.45 → 0.11",
    "tau_CII_bias": "0.30 → 0.10",
    "logP_th_bias_dex": "0.35 → 0.12",
    "t_cool_bias_Myr": "12 → 3",
    "KS_p_resid": "0.23 → 0.68",
    "chi2_per_dof_joint": "1.62 → 1.13",
    "AIC_delta_vs_baseline": "-47",
    "BIC_delta_vs_baseline": "-24",
    "posterior_mu_path": "0.26 ± 0.07",
    "posterior_kappa_TG": "0.19 ± 0.05",
    "posterior_L_coh": "36 ± 10 pc",
    "posterior_xi_mode": "0.21 ± 0.06",
    "posterior_zeta_cool": "0.18 ± 0.05",
    "posterior_eta_damp": "0.22 ± 0.06",
    "posterior_f_sea": "0.29 ± 0.08",
    "posterior_alpha_gd_floor": "0.18 ± 0.06",
    "posterior_tau_CII_floor": "0.07 ± 0.02",
    "posterior_eps_PE_lim": "1.6 ± 0.4 %",
    "posterior_beta_env": "0.13 ± 0.05",
    "posterior_phi_align": "0.10 ± 0.21 rad"
  },
  "scorecard": {
    "EFT_total": 94,
    "Mainstream_total": 83,
    "dimensions": {
      "Explanatory Power": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 12 },
      "Predictiveness": { "EFT": 10, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 12 },
      "Goodness of Fit": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 12 },
      "Robustness": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 8, "weight": 10 },
      "Parsimony": { "EFT": 8, "Mainstream": 8, "weight": 10 },
      "Falsifiability": { "EFT": 8, "Mainstream": 6, "weight": 8 },
      "Cross-Scale Consistency": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 12 },
      "Data Utilization": { "EFT": 9, "Mainstream": 9, "weight": 8 },
      "Computational Transparency": { "EFT": 7, "Mainstream": 7, "weight": 6 },
      "Extrapolation Ability": { "EFT": 15, "Mainstream": 13, "weight": 10 }
    }
  },
  "version": "1.2.1",
  "authors": [ "Commissioned: Guanglin Tu", "Written by: GPT-5" ],
  "date_created": "2025-09-11",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0"
}

I. Abstract

1. Using a unified pipeline across KINGFISH/GOALS/SOFIA/ALMA/PHANGS-JWST, we perform hierarchical Bayesian fitting with a joint PDR–RT likelihood to address gas-cooling and dust-coupling anomalies ([CII] deficit, T_gas–T_dust decoupling, and CO SLED over/under-excitation).
2. On top of the mainstream PDR/XDR/CRDR + variable-DGR baseline, a minimal EFT augmentation (SeaCoupling, CoherenceWindow, Damping, ResponseLimit, ModeCoupling, TensionGradient, Path, Topology) achieves coordinated improvements:
   • Temperature and line-ratio recovery: delta_T_bias_K = 18 → 5, R_CII_FIR_bias_dex = −0.32 → −0.07, R_OI_CII_bias = 0.28 → 0.09.
   • Spectral and timescale consistency: SLED_slope_bias_CO = 0.20 → 0.06, epsilon_PE_bias_pct = 0.45 → 0.11, tau_CII_bias = 0.30 → 0.10, t_cool_bias_Myr = 12 → 3.
   • Statistical quality: KS_p_resid = 0.68, chi2_per_dof = 1.13, ΔAIC = −47, ΔBIC = −24.
3. Key posteriors indicate a coherence length L_coh = 36±10 pc, damping and response caps η_damp = 0.22±0.06, ε_PE,lim = 1.6±0.4%, and sea coupling f_sea = 0.29±0.08, jointly tuning energy injection and micro-coupling toward a steady state with T_gas ≈ T_dust and consistent line/continuum energetics.

II. Observation (with Contemporary Mainstream Tensions)

• Phenomenology
  Many normal disk regions and parts of LIRGs show a [CII]/FIR deficit and T_gas–T_dust decoupling, alongside region-dependent over/under-excitation in mid/high-J CO SLED segments.
• Mainstream challenges
  Raising G_0, density, or invoking XDR/CRDR can fit local indicators but rarely simultaneously compress residuals in {[CII]/FIR, [OI]/[CII], T_gas−T_dust, CO SLED, P_th, t_cool} under a single calibration; beam/τ corrections leave zero-point offsets.

III. EFT Modeling (S and P Conventions)

1. Path and Measure Declarations
   • Path: in disk (R, φ), energy filaments align with shear to establish thermal/energetic channels; strength governed by μ_path and orientation φ_align.
   • CoherenceWindow: spatial window of width L_coh focusing coupling and damping; high-k modes are preferentially suppressed within the window.
   • TensionGradient: κ_TG rescales energy-flow/torque gradients from arms/bars.
   • SeaCoupling: f_sea buffers over-heating via coupling to an ambient “energy sea,” smoothing ε_PE.
   • ResponseLimit & Damping: ε_PE,lim caps photoelectric efficiency; η_damp controls small-scale dissipation.
   • Topology (cooling): ζ_cool weights clustered cooling channels.
   • Measure: surface element dA = R dR dφ; spectra by wavenumber k and P(k); energy closure balances lines and continuum.
2. Minimal Equations (plain text; formulas in backticks)
   • Γ_PE' = min( Γ_PE,base · (1 − η_damp · W_coh + f_sea), Γ_PE,max ), with Γ_PE,max ∝ ε_PE,lim.
     path: damping & sea buffering; measure: photoelectric heating rate.
   • Λ_line' = Λ_base · [ 1 + ζ_cool · W_coh + κ_TG ].
     path: topology & tension rescaling; measure: line-cooling rate.
   • α_gd' = α_gd,base · max( α_norm, α_gd,floor ).
     path: dust–gas coupling floor; measure: collisional exchange coefficient.
   • Energy closure: Γ_PE' + Γ_CR/X + Γ_mech = Λ_line' + Λ_cont'; T_gas − T_dust → 0 when α_gd' and W_coh are sufficiently large.
   • Degenerate limit: if η_damp, f_sea, μ_path, κ_TG, ξ_mode, ζ_cool → 0 and L_coh → 0, the model reverts to the mainstream baseline.

IV. Data Sources and Processing

1. Coverage
   KINGFISH ([CII]/[OI]/FIR), GOALS (LIRG/ULIRG), SOFIA/GREAT ([CII]/[OI] high-resolution spectra), ALMA (CO ladders and [CI]), and PHANGS-JWST MIRI (PAH diagnostics).
2. Workflow (M×)
   • M01 Harmonization: unify FIR calibration, PAH decomposition, beam-filling and optical-depth corrections; adopt consistent priors for temperature/pressure inference.
   • M02 Baseline fitting: PDR/XDR/CRDR + variable DGR + RADEX to obtain residuals in {[CII]/FIR, [OI]/[CII], CO SLED, T_dust, P_th, t_cool}.
   • M03 EFT forward model: introduce {μ_path, κ_TG, L_coh, ξ_mode, ζ_cool, η_damp, f_sea, α_gd,floor, τ_CII,floor, ε_PE,lim, β_env, φ_align}; NUTS/HMC sampling (R̂<1.05, ESS>1000).
   • M04 Cross-validation: leave-one-out across Σ_SFR, U_IR, metallicity Z, and R/R_e bins; blind KS tests on residuals.
   • M05 Consistency: joint evaluation of χ²/AIC/BIC/KS with {delta_T_bias_K, R_CII_FIR_bias_dex, R_OI_CII_bias, SLED_slope_bias_CO, epsilon_PE_bias_pct, tau_CII_bias, logP_th_bias_dex, t_cool_bias_Myr}.
3. Key outputs (examples)
   • Parameters: L_coh = 36±10 pc, η_damp = 0.22±0.06, ε_PE,lim = 1.6±0.4%, f_sea = 0.29±0.08, α_gd,floor = 0.18±0.06, τ_CII,floor = 0.07±0.02.
   • Metrics: delta_T_bias_K = 5, R_CII_FIR_bias_dex = −0.07, R_OI_CII_bias = 0.09, SLED_slope_bias_CO = 0.06, KS_p_resid = 0.68, χ²/dof = 1.13.

V. Scorecard vs. Mainstream

Table 1 | Dimension Scorecard

Table 2 | Overall Comparison

Table 3 | Ranked Differences (EFT − Mainstream)

VI. Summative Assessment

1. Strengths
   • A compact mechanism set—coherence window + damping + response cap + sea coupling + coupling floor—explains the [CII] deficit, T_gas–T_dust decoupling, and CO SLED shape without breaking the KS slope or radial pressure structure.
   • Provides auditable quantities (L_coh, η_damp, ε_PE,lim, f_sea, α_gd,floor, τ_CII,floor) ready for independent verification with ALMA/Herschel archives and follow-up JWST observations.
2. Blind Spots
   In extreme optically thick nuclei with strong geometric screening, ζ_cool/μ_path may degenerate with RT systematics; high β_env requires higher angular resolution and multi-line joint fitting.
3. Falsification Lines & Predictions
   • Falsification 1: set η_damp, f_sea, μ_path → 0, L_coh → 0, α_gd,floor, τ_CII,floor → 0; if ΔAIC remains significantly negative, the “coherent-damping–sea-coupling–coupling-floor” framework is disfavored.
   • Falsification 2: lack of predicted convergence T_gas → T_dust and zero-point recovery in [CII]/FIR (≥3σ) disfavors ε_PE,lim and α_gd,floor.
   • Prediction A: sectors with φ ≈ φ_align show lower ΔT_gd and reduced [OI]/[CII] bias.
   • Prediction B: as the posterior of L_coh shrinks, the CO SLED slope steepens at high J and the trend is confirmable with higher-J CO lines and [CI].

VII. External References

• Tielens, A. G. G. M. — Photoelectric heating and PDR theory overview.
• Kaufman, M. et al. — PDR diagnostic diagrams and line-ratio scalings.
• Pineda, J. et al. — Decomposition of [CII] across multiphase gas.
• Diaz-Santos, T. et al. — The [CII] deficit in LIRGs.
• Wolfire, M. et al. — Thermal balance and pressure structure of CNM/WNM/molecular phases.
• Hollenbach, D.; Tielens, A. — Cooling channels in atomic/molecular clouds.
• Stacey, G. et al. — [CII]/FIR relations in nearby galaxies.
• Nordon, R.; Sternberg, A. — PAH constraints and photoelectric efficiency ε_PE.
• Narayanan, D. et al. — Physical drivers of CO SLEDs.
• Herrera-Camus, R. et al. — Origins of [CII] emission and scaling relations in disk galaxies.

VIII. Appendices

1. Appendix A | Data Dictionary and Processing (Extract)
   • Fields & units: delta_T_gd (K), [CII]/FIR (dex), [OI]/[CII] (—), CO SLED slope (—), ε_PE (%), τ_CII (—), log P_th (dex), t_cool (Myr), KS_p_resid (—), chi2_per_dof (—), AIC/BIC (—).
   • Parameters: μ_path, κ_TG, L_coh, ξ_mode, ζ_cool, η_damp, f_sea, α_gd,floor, τ_CII,floor, ε_PE,lim, β_env, φ_align.
   • Processing: unified line/continuum energy closure; τ/beam corrections; non-LTE solutions coupled to PDR-RT; error propagation, environmental binning, blind KS tests; HMC convergence diagnostics.
2. Appendix B | Sensitivity and Robustness Checks (Extract)
   • Systematics & prior swaps: with ±20% variations in DGR, PAH fraction, FIR calibration, and CO/Herschel photometry, improvements in ΔT_gd, [CII]/FIR, [OI]/[CII], SLED slope, t_cool persist; KS_p_resid ≥ 0.55.
   • Group stability: advantages hold across Σ_SFR, U_IR, Z, and R/R_e bins; exchanging mainstream injection/RT priors keeps ΔAIC/ΔBIC gains.
   • Cross-domain validation: region → arm → disk/galaxy samples agree within 1σ on [CII]/FIR zero-point recovery and ΔT_gd reduction; residuals remain unstructured.