3,461 research outputs found
Cold atomic hydrogen in the inner galaxy
The VLA is used to measure 21 cm absorption in directions with the absolute value of b less than 1 deg., the absolute value of 1 less than 25 deg. to probe the cool atomic gas in the inner galaxy. Abundant H I absorption is detected; typical lines are deep and narrow, sometimes blending in velocity with adjacent features. Unlike 21 cm emission not all allowed velocities are covered: large portions of the l-v diagram are optically thin. Although not similar to H I emission, the absorption shows a striking correspondence with CO emission in the inner galaxy: essentially every strong feature detected in one survey is seen in the other. The provisional conclusion is that in the inner galaxy most cool atomic gas is associated with molecular cloud complexes. There are few or no cold atomic clouds devoid of molecules in the inner galaxy, although these are common in the outer galaxy
HI Emission and Absorption in the Southern Galactic Plane Survey
We present preliminary results from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS)
Test Region and Parkes data. As part of the pilot project for the Southern
Galactic Plane Survey, observations of a Test Region (325.5 deg < l < 333.5
deg; -0.5 deg < b < 3.5 deg) were completed in December 1998. Single dish
observations of the full survey region (253 deg < l < 358 deg; |b| <1 deg) with
the Parkes Radio Telescope were completed in March 2000. We present a sample of
SGPS HI data with particular attention to the smallest and largest scale
structures seen in absorption and emission, respectively. On the large scale,
we detect many prominent HI shells. On the small scale, we note extremely
compact, cold clouds seen in HI self-absorption. We explore how these two
classes of objects probe opposite ends of the HI spatial power spectrum.Comment: 9 pages, 3 embedded postscript & 4 jpeg figures. Presented at the
Astronomical Society of Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, July 4-7 2000. To appear
in PASA Vol. 18(1
A Complete Atlas of HI Absorption toward HII Regions in the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS1)
We present a complete catalog of H I emission and absorption spectrum pairs,
toward H II regions, detectable within the boundaries of the Southern Galactic
Plane Survey (SGPS I), a total of 252 regions. The catalog is presented in
graphical, numerical and summary formats. We demonstrate an application of this
new dataset through an investigation of the locus of the Near 3kpc Arm.Comment: Accepted for publication by ApJS Feb 6, 2014. Data files and Figure
Set (252 images) to appear in the on-line version of the journa
HI Absorption Toward HII Regions at Small Galactic Longitudes
We make a comprehensive study of HI absorption toward HII regions located
within Galactic longitudes less than 10 degrees. Structures in the extreme
inner Galaxy are traced using the longitude-velocity space distribution of this
absorption. We find significant HI absorption associated with the Near and Far
3kpc Arms, the Connecting Arm, Banias Clump 1 and the H I Tilted Disk. We also
constrain the line of sight distances to HII regions, by using HI absorption
spectra together with the HII region velocities measured by radio recombination
lines.Comment: Complete figure set available in online version of journal. Accepted
by ApJ August 8, 201
The magnetic field of the Large Magellanic Cloud revealed through Faraday rotation
We have measured the Faraday rotation toward a large sample of polarized
radio sources behind the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), to determine the
structure of this galaxy's magnetic field. The magnetic field of the LMC
consists of a coherent axisymmetric spiral of field strength ~1 microgauss.
Strong fluctuations in the magnetic field are also seen, on small (<0.5
parsecs) and large (~100 parsecs) scales. The significant bursts of recent star
formation and supernova activity in the LMC argue against standard dynamo
theory, adding to the growing evidence for rapid field amplification in
galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, including 3 embedded EPS figures (1 color, 2 b/w) plus
supporting on-line material; uses scicite.sty. To appear in Science, vol 307,
number 5715 (11 March 2005
Temporal Evolution of the Vela Pulsar's Pulse Profile
The mechanisms of emission and changes in rotation frequency ('glitching') of
the Vela pulsar (J0835-4510) are not well understood. Further insight into
these mechanisms can be achieved by long-term studies of integrated pulse
width, timing residuals, and bright pulse rates. We have undertaken an
intensive observing campaign of Vela and collected over 6000 hours of single
pulse data. The data shows that the pulse width changes with time, including
marked jumps in width after micro-glitches (frequency changes). The abundance
of bright pulses also changes after some micro-glitches, but not all. The
secular changes in pulse width have three possible cyclic periods, that match
with X-ray periodicities of a helical jet that are interpreted as free
precession.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
The future of universal access? merging computing, design and engineering
Technology is advancing at a fast pace while the shape and nature of computers continues to evolve, with tablets and smartphones illustrating the move away from the traditional notion of a laptop or desktop computer. Similarly, networking and sensing technologies are also developing rapidly and innovatively. All of these technologies have the potential to enfranchise users with severe functional impairments to be better able to control and interact with other people and their surroundings. However, this is only possible if those designing the novel systems based upon these new technologies consider such users’ needs explicitly. This paper examines how these technological advances can be employed to support these users in the near future. The paper further discusses issues such as the need for security as systems evolve from control of specific environments to a potential model for interaction in any location
Supergiant Shells and Molecular Cloud Formation in the LMC
We investigate the influence of large-scale stellar feedback on the formation
of molecular clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Examining the
relationship between HI and 12CO(J=1-0) in supergiant shells (SGSs), we find
that the molecular fraction in the total volume occupied by SGSs is not
enhanced with respect to the rest of the LMC disk. However, the majority of
objects (~70% by mass) are more molecular than their local surroundings,
implying that the presence of a supergiant shell does on average have a
positive effect on the molecular gas fraction. Averaged over the full SGS
sample, our results suggest that ~12-25% of the molecular mass in supergiant
shell systems was formed as a direct result of the stellar feedback that
created the shells. This corresponds to ~4-11% of the total molecular mass of
the galaxy. These figures are an approximate lower limit to the total
contribution of stellar feedback to molecular cloud formation in the LMC, and
constitute one of the first quantitative measurements of feedback-triggered
molecular cloud formation in a galactic system.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
The Supershell-Molecular Cloud Connection in the Milky Way and Beyond
The role of large-scale stellar feedback in the formation of molecular clouds
has been investigated observationally by examining the relationship between HI
and 12CO(J=1-0) in supershells. Detailed parsec-resolution case studies of two
Milky Way supershells demonstrate an enhanced level of molecularisation over
both objects, and hence provide the first quantitative observational evidence
of increased molecular cloud production in volumes of space affected by
supershell activity. Recent results on supergiant shells in the LMC suggest
that while they do indeed help to organise the ISM into over-dense structures,
their global contribution to molecular cloud formation is of the order of only
~10%.Comment: Proceedings of IAUS 292 - Molecular Gas, Dust, and Star Formation in
Galaxies, eds. T. Wong & J. Ott. 4 pages, 3 figure
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