3,223 research outputs found
On the Physical Origin of OVI Absorption-Line Systems
We present a unified analysis of the O{\sc vi} absorption-lines seen in the
disk and halo of the Milky Way, high velocity clouds, the Magellanic Clouds,
starburst galaxies, and the intergalactic medium. We show that these disparate
systems define a simple relationship between the O{\sc vi} column density and
absorption-line width that is independent of the Oxygen abundance over the
range O/H 10% to twice solar. We show that this relation is exactly that
predicted theoretically as a radiatively cooling flow of hot gas passes through
the coronal temperature regime - independent of its density or metallicity (for
O/H 0.1 solar). Since most of the intregalactic O{\sc vi} clouds obey
this relation, we infer that they can not have metallicities less than a few
percent solar. In order to be able to cool radiatively in less than a Hubble
time, the intergalactic clouds must be smaller than 1 Mpc in size. We
show that the cooling column densities for the O{\sc iv}, O{\sc v}, Ne{\sc v},
and Ne{\sc vi} ions are comparable to those seen in O{\sc vi}. This is also
true for the Li-like ions Ne{\sc viii}, Mg{\sc x}, and Si{\sc xii} (if the gas
is cooling from K). All these ions have strong resonance lines
in the extreme-ultraviolet spectral range, and would be accessible to at
0.2 to 0.8. We also show that the Li-like ions can be used to probe
radiatively cooling gas at temperatures an order-of-magnitude higher than where
their ionic fraction peaks. We calculate that the H-like (He-like) O, Ne, Mg,
Si, and S ions have cooling columns of cm. The O{\sc vii},
O{\sc viii}, and Ne{\sc ix} X-ray absorption-lines towards PKS 2155-304 may
arise in radiatively cooling gas in the Galactic disk or halo.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure
FUSE Observations of Outflowing OVI in the Dwarf Starburst Galaxy NGC1705
We report FUSE far-UV spectroscopy of the prototypical dwarf starburst galaxy
NGC 1705. These data allow us for the first time to probe the coronal-phase gas
(T = 10E5 to 10E6 K) that may dominate the radiative cooling of the
supernova-heated ISM and thereby determine the dynamical evolution of
starburst-driven outflows. We detect a broad (100 km/s) and blueshifted (by 80
km/s) OVI absorption-line arising in the previously-known galactic outflow. The
properties of the OVI absorption are inconsistent with the standard superbubble
model in which this gas arises in a conductive interface inside the outer
shell. We show that the superbubble in NGC 1705 is blowing out of the galaxy
ISM. During blow-out, coronal-phase gas can be created by hydrodynamical mixing
as hot gas rushes out through fissures in the fragmenting shell of cool gas. As
the coronal gas cools radiatively, it can naturally produce the observed OVI
column density and outflow speed. The OVI data show that the cooling rate in
the coronal-phase gas is less than about 10% of the supernova heating rate.
Since the X-ray luminosity from hotter gas is even smaller, we conclude that
radiative losses are insignificant. The outflow should be able to vent its
metals and kinetic energy out of the galaxy. This process has potentially
important implications for the evolution of dwarf galaxies and the IGM.Comment: ApJ (in press
The quest for hot gas in the halo of NGC 1511
XMM-Newton observations of the starburst galaxy NGC 1511 reveal the presence
of a previously unknown extended hot gaseous phase of its ISM, which partly
extends out of the disk plane. The emission distribution is asymmetric, being
brightest in the eastern half of the galaxy, where also radio continuum
observations suggest the highest level of star formation. Spectral analysis of
the integral 0.2-12 keV X-ray emission from NGC 1511 indicates a complex
emission composition. A model comprising a power law plus thermal plasma
component, both absorbed by foreground gas, cannot explain all details of the
observed spectrum, requiring a third spectral component to be added. This
component can be a second thermal plasma, but other spectral models can be
fitted as well. Its X-ray properties characterize NGC 1511 as a starburst
galaxy. The X-ray-to-infrared luminosity ratio is consistent with this result.
Together with the X-ray data, XMM-Newton obtained UV images of NGC 1511,
tracing massive stars heating the ambient gas, which is then seen in H\alpha
emission. UV, H\alpha and near-infrared imagery suggest that NGC 1511 is
disturbed, most likely by its two small companions, NGC 1511a and NGC 1511b.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Analysis of EUV/FUV dayglow and auroral measurements
This report documents investigations carried out over the twelve month period which commenced in November 1992. The contract identifies the following three tasks: analysis of the O II 83.4 nm dayglow and comparison with incoherent scatter radar data, analysis of the EUV spectrum of an electron aurora, and analysis of the EUV spectrum of a proton-hydrogen-electron aurora. The analysis approach, data reduction methods, and results, including plots of O I 98.9 nm versus time and average spectra, are presented for the last two tasks. The appendices contain preprints of two papers written under the first task. The first paper examines the effect of new O(3P) photoionization cross sections, N2 photoabsorption cross sections, and O(+) oscillator strengths and transition probabilities on the O II 83.4 nm dayglow. The second addresses the problem of remotely sensing the dayside F2 region using limb O II 83.4 nm data
Feedback in the local LBG Analog Haro 11 as probed by far-UV and X-ray observations
We have re-analyzed FUSE data and obtained new Chandra observations of Haro
11, a local (D_L=88 Mpc) UV luminous galaxy. Haro 11 has a similar far-UV
luminosity (10^10.3 L_\odot), UV surface brightness (10^9.4 L_\odot kpc^-2),
SFR, and metallicity to that observed in Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs). We show
that Haro 11 has extended, soft thermal (kT~0.68 keV) X-ray emission with a
luminosity and size which scales with the physical properties (e.g. SFR,
stellar mass) of the host galaxy. An enhanced alpha/Fe, ratio of ~4 relative to
solar abundance suggests significant supernovae enrichment. These results are
consistent with the X-ray emission being produced in a shock between a
supernovae driven outflow and the ambient material. The FUV spectra show strong
absorption lines similar to those observed in LBG spectra. A blueshifted
absorption component is identified as a wind outflowing at ~200-280 km/s.
OVI\lambda\lambda1032,1038 emission, the dominant cooling mechanism for coronal
gas at T~10^5.5 K is also observed. If associated with the outflow, the
luminosity of the OVI emission suggests that <20% of the total mechanical
energy from the supernovae and solar winds is being radiated away. This implies
that radiative cooling through OVI is not significantly inhibiting the growth
of the outflowing gas. In contradiction to the findings of Bergvall et al 2006,
we find no convincing evidence of Lyman continuum leakage in Haro 11. We
conclude that the wind has not created a `tunnel' allowing the escape of a
significant fraction of Lyman continuum photons and place a limit on the escape
fraction of f_{esc}<2%. Overall, both Haro 11 and a previously observed LBG
analogue VV 114, provide an invaluable insight into the X-ray and FUV
properties of high redshift LBGs.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 40 pages, 17 figure
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