296 research outputs found
Measuring Galactic Extinction: A Test
We test the recently published all-sky reddening map of Schlegel, Finkbeiner
& Davis (1998 [SFD]) using the extinction study of a region in the Taurus dark
cloud complex by Arce & Goodman (1999 [AG]). In their study, AG use four
different techniques to measure the amount and structure of the extinction
toward Taurus, and all four techniques agree very well. Thus we believe that
the AG results are a truthful representation of the extinction in the region
and can be used to test the reliability of the SFD reddening map. The results
of our test show that the SFD all-sky reddening map, which is based on data
from COBE/DIRBE and IRAS/ISSA, overestimates the reddening by a factor of 1.3
to 1.5 in regions of smooth extinction with A_V > 0.5 mag. In some regions of
steep extinction gradients the SFD map underestimates the reddening value,
probably due to its low spatial resolution. We expect that the astronomical
community will be using the SFD reddening map extensively. We offer this Letter
as a cautionary note about using the SFD map in regions of high extinction (A_V
> 0.5 mag), as it might not be giving accurate reddening values there.Comment: 14 pages (which include 2 pages of figures
The Effect of Noise on the Dust Temperature - Spectral Index Correlation
We investigate how uncertainties in flux measurements affect the results from
modified blackbody SED fits. We show that an inverse correlation between the
dust temperature T and spectral index (beta) naturally arises from least
squares fits due to the uncertainties, even for sources with a single T and
beta. Fitting SEDs to noisy fluxes solely in the Rayleigh-Jeans regime produces
unreliable T and beta estimates. Thus, for long wavelength observations (lambda
>~ 200 micron), or for warm sources (T >~ 60 K), it becomes difficult to
distinguish sources with different temperatures. We assess the role of noise in
recent observational results that indicate an inverse and continuously varying
T - beta relation. Though an inverse and continuous T - beta correlation may be
a physical property of dust in the ISM, we find that the observed inverse
correlation may be primarily due to noise.Comment: 14 pages, including 5 Figures; Accepted for publication in Ap
The "True" Column Density Distribution in Star-Forming Molecular Clouds
We use the COMPLETE Survey's observations of the Perseus star-forming region
to assess and intercompare three methods for measuring column density in
molecular clouds: extinction mapping (NIR); thermal emission mapping (FIR); and
mapping the intensity of CO isotopologues. The structures shown by all three
tracers are morphologically similar, but important differences exist.
Dust-based measures give similar, log-normal, distributions for the full
Perseus region, once careful calibration corrections are made. We also compare
dust- and gas-based column density distributions for physically-meaningful
sub-regions of Perseus, and we find significant variations in the distributions
for those regions. Even though we have used 12CO data to estimate excitation
temperatures, and we have corrected for opacity, the 13CO maps seem unable to
give column distributions that consistently resemble those from dust measures.
We have edited out the effects of the shell around the B-star HD 278942. In
that shell's interior and in the parts where it overlaps the molecular cloud,
there appears to be a dearth of 13CO, likely due either to 13CO not yet having
had time to form in this young structure, and/or destruction of 13CO in the
molecular cloud. We conclude that the use of either dust or gas measures of
column density without extreme attention to calibration and artifacts is more
perilous than even experts might normally admit. And, the use of 13CO to trace
total column density in detail, even after proper calibration, is unavoidably
limited in utility due to threshold, depletion, and opacity effects. If one's
main aim is to map column density, then dust extinction seems the best probe.
Linear fits amongst column density tracers are given, quantifying the inherent
uncertainties in using one tracer (when compared with others). [abridged]Comment: Accepted in ApJ. 13 pages, 6 color figures. It includes small changes
to improve clarity. For a version with high-resolution figures see
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/COMPLETE/papers/Goodman_ColumnDensity.pd
Smooth X-ray variability from Ophiuchi A+B. A strongly magnetized primary B2 star?
X-rays from massive stars are ubiquitous yet not clearly understood. In an
XMM-Newton observation devoted to observe the first site of star formation in
the Ophiuchi dark cloud, we detect smoothly variable X-ray emission from
the B2IV+B2V system of Ophiuchi. Tentatively we assign the emission to
the primary component. The light curve of the pn camera shows a first phase of
low, almost steady rate, then a rise phase of duration of 10 ks, followed by a
high rate phase. The variability is seen primarily in the band 1.0-8.0 keV
while little variability is detected below 1 keV. The spectral analysis of the
three phases reveals the presence of a hot component at 3.0 keV that adds up to
two relatively cold components at 0.9 keV and 2.2 keV. We explain the smooth
variability with the emergence of an extended active region on the surface of
the primary star due to its fast rotation (v km/s). We estimate
that the region has diameter in the range R. The hard X-ray
emission and its variability hint a magnetic origin, as suggested for few other
late-Oearly-B type stars. We also discuss an alternative explanation based
on the emergence from occultation of a young (5-10 Myr) low mass companion
bright and hot in X-rays.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication as a letter in
A&
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