Strong CH+ J=1-0 emission and absorption in DR21

We report the first detection of the ground-state rotational transition of the methylidyne cation CH+ towards the massive star-forming region DR21 with the HIFI instrument onboard the Herschel satellite. The line profile exhibits a broad emission line, in addition to two deep and broad absorption features associated with the DR21 molecular ridge and foreground gas. These observations allow us to determine a CH+ J=1-0 line frequency of 835137 +/- 3 MHz, in good agreement with a recent experimental determination. We estimate the CH+ column density to be a few 1e13 cm^-2 in the gas seen in emission, and > 1e14 cm^-2 in the components responsible for the absorption, which is indicative of a high line of sight average abundance [CH+]/[H] > 1.2x10^-8. We show that the CH+ column densities agree well with the predictions of state-of-the-art C-shock models in dense UV-illuminated gas for the emission line, and with those of turbulent dissipation models in diffuse gas for the absorption lines.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Detection of interstellar oxidaniumyl: abundant H2O+ towards the star-forming regions DR21, Sgr B2, and NGC6334

We identify a prominent absorption feature at 1115 GHz, detected in first HIFI spectra towards high-mass star-forming regions, and interpret its astrophysical origin. The characteristic hyperfine pattern of the H2O+ ground-state rotational transition, and the lack of other known low-energy transitions in this frequency range, identifies the feature as H2O+ absorption against the dust continuum background and allows us to derive the velocity profile of the absorbing gas. By comparing this velocity profile with velocity profiles of other tracers in the DR21 star-forming region, we constrain the frequency of the transition and the conditions for its formation. In DR21, the velocity distribution of H2O+ matches that of the [CII] line at 158\mu\m and of OH cm-wave absorption, both stemming from the hot and dense clump surfaces facing the HII-region and dynamically affected by the blister outflow. Diffuse foreground gas dominates the absorption towards Sgr B2. The integrated intensity of the absorption line allows us to derive lower limits to the H2O+ column density of 7.2e12 cm^-2 in NGC 6334, 2.3e13 cm^-2 in DR21, and 1.1e15 cm^-2 in Sgr B2.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Detection of interstellar oxidaniumyl: Abundant H2O+ towards the star-forming regions DR21, Sgr B2, and NGC6334

Aims. We identify a prominent absorption feature at 1115 GHz, detected in first HIFI spectra towards high-mass star-forming regions, and interpret its astrophysical origin. Methods. The characteristic hyperfine pattern of the H2O+ ground-state rotational transition, and the lack of other known low-energy transitions in this frequency range, identifies the feature as H2O+ absorption against the dust continuum background and allows us to derive the velocity profile of the absorbing gas. By comparing this velocity profile with velocity profiles of other tracers in the DR21 star-forming region, we constrain the frequency of the transition and the conditions for its formation. Results. In DR21, the velocity distribution of H2O+ matches that of the [Cii] line at 158 μm and of OH cm-wave absorption, both stemming from the hot and dense clump surfaces facing the Hii-region and dynamically affected by the blister outflow. Diffuse foreground gas dominates the absorption towards Sgr B2. The integrated intensity of the absorption line allows us to derive lower limits to the H2O+ column density of 7.2 × 1012 cm−2 in NGC 6334, 2.3 × 1013 cm−2 in DR21, and 1.1 × 1015 cm−2 in Sgr B2

Before and After Herschel – Modeling Photo-Induced Chemistry and PDR Line Emission in the Warm and Dense ISM (WADI)

We present HIFI observations of [CII] and high-J transitions of CO and HCO+ at positions in S140 and DR21. We use a clumpy PDR model to model and interpret the observed line intensities. The emission from both massive star forming regions can be reproduced by assuming a clumpy, 2-component PDR scenario

Is the Anomalous Microwave Emission due to the Rotation of Interstellar Pahs? Planck Results: PLANCK - AKARI Project

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The chemistry of ions in the The effect of high electron density and vibrationally excited H 2 in a warm PDR surface

ABSTRACT Context. The abundances of interstellar CH + and SH + are not well understood as their most likely formation channels are highly endothermic. Several mechanisms have been proposed to overcome the high activation barriers, including shocks, turbulence, and H 2 vibrational excitation. Aims. Using data from the Herschel Space Observatory, we studied the formation of ions, in particular CH + and SH + in a typical high UV-illumination warm and dense photon-dominated region (PDR), the Orion Bar. Methods. The HIFI instrument on board Herschel provides velocity-resolved line profiles of CH + 1-0 and 2-1 and three hyperfine transitions of SH + 1 2 −0 1 . The PACS instrument provides information on the excitation and spatial distribution of CH + by extending the observed CH + transitions up to J = 6-5. We compared the observed line intensities to the predictions of radiative transfer and PDR codes. Results. All CH + , SH + , and CF + lines analyzed in this paper are seen in emission. The widths of the CH + 2-1 and 1-0 transitions are of ∼5 km s −1 , significantly broader than the typical width of dense gas tracers in the Orion Bar (∼2-3 km s −1 ) and are comparable to the width of species that trace the interclump medium such as C + and HF. The detected SH + transitions are narrower compared to CH + and have line widths of ∼3 km s −1 , indicating that SH + emission mainly originates in denser condensations. Non-LTE radiative transfer models show that electron collisions affect the excitation of CH + and SH + and that reactive collisions need to be taken into account to calculate the excitation of CH + . Comparison to PDR models shows that CH + and SH + are tracers of the warm surface region (A V < 1.5) of the PDR with temperatures between 500 and 1000 K. We have also detected the 5-4 transition of CF + at a width of ∼1.9 km s −1 , consistent with the width of dense gas tracers. The intensity of the CF + 5-4 transition is consistent with previous observations of lower-J transitions toward the Orion Bar. Conclusions. An analytic approximation and a numerical comparison to PDR models indicate that the internal vibrational energy of H 2 can explain the formation of CH + for typical physical conditions in the Orion Bar near the ionization front. The formation of SH + is also likely to be explained by H 2 vibrational excitation. The abundance ratios of CH + and SH + trace the destruction paths of these ions, and indirectly, the ratios of H, H 2 , and electron abundances as a function of depth into the cloud