Dust in the eye of Andromeda

We present new Herschel-derived images of warm dust in the Andromeda galaxy, M31, with unprecedented spatial resolution (similar to 30 pc), column density accuracy, and constraints on the three-dimensional distributions of dust temperature and dust opacity index (hence grain size and composition), based on the new PPMAP Bayesian analysis procedure. We confirm the overall radial variation of dust opacity index reported by other recent studies, including the central decrease within similar to 3 kpc of the nucleus. We also investigate the detailed distribution of dust in the nuclear region, a prominent feature of which is an similar to 500 pc bar-like structure seen previously in H alpha. The nature of this feature has been the subject of some debate. Our maps show it to be the site of the warmest dust, with a mean line-of-sight temperature similar to 30 K. A comparison with the stellar distribution, based on 2MASS data, provides strong evidence that it is a gravitationally induced bar. A comparison with radial velocity maps suggests the presence of an inflow towards the nucleus from opposite directions along this bar, fed presumably by the nuclear spiral with which it appears to connect. Such behaviour is common in large-scale bars in spiral galaxies, as is the phenomenon of nested bars whereby a subkiloparsec nuclear bar exists within a large-scale primary bar. We suggest that M31 represents an example of such nesting.